Ending the Stigma of Bipolar Disorder

Emotional and behavioral disorders are the most commonly under-represented disorders in the country. While there has been much research on the subject, many problems arise with the failure of many people to recognize the serious disabilities associated with these disorders. Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, remains at the top of the list of most under-recognized. The results of the severe ups and downs of manic depression can be devastating, and these types of disorders are rarely discussed in schools. More should be done to educate early on about these disorders to teach that acceptance is key in understanding these difficult mental and emotional disorders.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, sometimes referred to as manic depression, is a serious mental illness that is characterized by a series of "highs" and "lows". These are called the manic and depressive states of bipolar, respectively. Most people with the disorder will go through periods of intense energy and activity, with a decreased need for sleep. They may feel extreme happiness, elation, or excitement. During mania and manic episodes, people with bipolar disorder are more likely to act out spontaneously, spending money, using drugs, or taking dangerous risks without considering the consequences.

On the other hand, the depressive episodes are characterized by feelings of extreme sadness, which usually involve thoughts of self-loathing, anger, and worthlessness. During a depressive state, persons with bipolar disorder are more likely to engage in self-harm, suicidal ideations, and suicidal behaviors. According to WebMD, "People with bipolar disorder are at great risk for suicide if they are not getting treatment. The National Mental Health Association reports that 30-70 percent of suicide victims have suffered from a form of depression."

This is a serious issue in the world today that should not be taken lightly. There are only a few patron names associated with the disorder, celebrities or other public figures who are actively trying to raise awareness about bipolar disorder, but with each passing year, there seems to be more and more people coming out and speaking about their own struggles with bipolar disorder, showing that this disorder is happening a lot more often than we think.

Advocates for Bipolar Disorder Awareness:

Many famous actors and actresses have admitted their own battles with manic depression publicly, hoping to help end the stigma of mental illness and bring awareness to the topic. Among these individuals includes Mel Gibson, Stephen Fry, and various others. Research has also suggested that many of the greatest artists and writers of our world have been manic-depressive, including well renowned authors and artists such as Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, Vincent Van Gogh, and Jackson Pollock.

The most admirable of these advocates, I believe, is Stephen Fry, who, in battling the darkness of this disorder since he was a teenager, is now actively working to spread awareness about bipolar disorder around the world. In 2006, The Independent mentioned that, "The 49-year-old actor has been tormented by mental illness for much of his life. But he has never before spoken of it with such candor. This week for the first time, in a programme to be broadcast on BBC2, he bears his soul".

At the age of 37, after two suicide attempts and a lifetime of highs and lows, Stephen Fry was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The diagnosis revealed that he has developed a form of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia, what he humorously refers to as "bipolar light". It is a lesser-known form of the disorder, but that certainly does not mean it should be taken lightly.

Many people suffering from the disorder still experience extreme periods of depression and suicidal thinking and behaviors. What makes Stephen Fry a very inspirational advocate, in my opinion, is the fact that he decided to speak out and also remained active and created support systems for many people around the world that also have bipolar disorder. In his own documentary, Fry states, "4 million people in the U.K. suffer from bipolar disorder". He brings relevance to his country about this topic, but also discusses how this is a universal and global issue throughout the world.

At the age of only seventeen, Fry experienced his first suicide attempt: "In a moment of despair, he tried to kill himself. He had wrestled with demons ever since. Now he lays his illness up to public scrutiny. 'I want to speak out, fight the public stigma and to give a clearer picture of a mental illness most people know little about'" . In an interview, Fry indicated that much of his depression was associated with isolation, i.e. living alone. At a very young age, Fry was referred to a psychiatrist at Uppingham Public School: "Fry explained that he was 'in a constant stage of edginess' and 'impossible to handle'" . These characteristics remain true for many adolescents struggling with this disorder every single day.

Stephen Fry has had several interviews with BBC about his disorder, as well as the creation of his documentary about the condition entitled "The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive". In one of his BBC interviews, Fry explains his condition as, "Morbid. It causes death and deeply unhealthy lifestyles, and deep unhappiness for the person conflicted and really hugely for their families and those who love them". This statement is a truth that many persons with bipolar disorder can relate to. Fry then goes on to say that: "The mood is your own personal weather, and it's very like the weather. If you go outside and it's raining, it's not you that's made it rain. It's you and it's real. You can't un-think the rain. You can't walk out of it and say, oh it will be sunny...life is so black that you cannot imagine a tomorrow". For many people with manic depression, this is an absolute truth.

Stephen Fry has done a lot of work over the decades to help raise awareness and educate others about bipolar disorder, which I think is admirable and so important, especially for the younger persons suffering with the disorder. When they see someone well-known showing that they have these kinds of problems, too, it can give them a sense of belonging that maybe they felt they didn't have. One of the worst feelings when you have a mental illness is feeling all alone and misunderstood, and many well-known public figures have started to speak out more about bipolar disorder and how it has impacted their lives.

Societal Perceptions

While many people might tell a person to just "snap out of it", they really cannot. The depression creates such a blackness over top of them that they feel like they cannot get out, and that is one of the main problems with acceptance of mental illness today; many people view bipolar and other mental health disorders as just an "excuse" rather than something that is really taking away from a person. It is these invisible forces that make it harder to diagnose and treat. As a celebrity, Stephen Fry has made many people aware of the debilitating disorder, but he is not the only one that can make a difference.

Education and Awareness

For example, educators must constantly be thinking about what can be done to accommodate for every student in the classroom. Despite a large number of societies believing that bipolar disorder simply isn't real, teachers must remain vigilant and educated on the early warning signs of bipolar disorder in order to best help their students. I myself was an educator in the school system and understood the value and importance of knowing these signs, looking out for others, and teaching students proper ways to understand and accept mental illness. My hope is that in the coming years, more people will help put an end to the stigma associated with this disorder and come to accept it. Society needs to focus on recognizing mental health issues now, before more lives are lost to this debilitating disorder.

(Disclaimer: This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.)