People with bipolar disorder can experience periods of mania (extreme highs) and serious depression (extreme lows), sometimes cycling rapidly between them. Impacting men and women equally, bipolar symptoms usually appear in late adolescence and continue throughout life.
Artist Vincent Van Gogh was posthumously diagnosed with bipolar disorder following self-reported struggles with ‘melancholy’ and an intense ‘fury of work’. Sadly, Van Gogh died by suicide at the age of 37.
Just as van Gogh’s struggles were once misunderstood and misrepresented, inaccurate and harmful representation of people with bipolar as either ‘bad or mad’ leads to discrimination, shame and social isolation. These barriers hinder individuals from seeking the support they need.
With appropriate treatment and support, people with bipolar disorder live the same lives as everyone else. By providing access to resources and support, we can empower individuals to effectively manage their condition and thrive in their personal and professional lives.
