Bipolar UK Relaunches ‘Maybe It’s Bipolar’ Campaign With Short Film

Did you know there are 3 main types of Bipolar? 

Well for a condition that over 1 million people in the UK have, it is astonishing just how misunderstood the mental health condition is. 

Fortunately, Bipolar UK, the only national charity that specifically supports people with bipolar and their families, is calling for greater awareness of the lesser-known symptoms of bipolar disorder, as delays to diagnosis continue to put thousands of lives at risk.

The mental health charity has relaunched their ‘Maybe it’s bipolar?’ campaign, aiming to help people recognise signs of the condition earlier and encourage timely support. 

More than half of the bipolar population is thought to be undiagnosed, often for nearly a decade.

Following a successful pilot that reached 1.5 million people in six months, the expanded campaign urges anyone experiencing unexplained mental health symptoms to take the charity’s online bipolar self-assessment test. It also provides resources for friends and family, who often notice symptoms long before a diagnosis is made.

Accompanying this launch is a new awareness film created by Bipolar UK ambassadors April Kelley and Rosie Viva – both of whom live with the condition – calling attention to the patterns that are frequently overlooked.

The split-screen short portrays shifts between high-energy periods, impulsive behaviour, difficulty sleeping and sudden drops into low mood, offering a realistic snapshot of bipolar’s cyclical nature. The film can be viewed on YouTube here.

At an early screening of the film Rosie Viva, Bipolar UK ambassador, model, author and presenter, said: “If only I had known more about it, I could have saved myself earlier.” 

The campaign is also rolling out targeted social media adverts on Instagram and TikTok, spotlighting six common hypomania symptoms, including irritability, impulsive spending and the widely misunderstood issue of hypersexual behaviour.

With symptoms often emerging before the age of 21, Bipolar UK hopes younger people, in particular, will recognise the early warning signs. 

“This campaign is crucial for the hundreds of thousands of people in the UK who are living with undiagnosed bipolar,” says Bipolar UK CEO Simon Kitchen, noting that delayed diagnosis increases the risk of job loss, relationship breakdown and, tragically, suicide.

To learn more or take the test, visit Bipolar UK. To watch the campaign film, visit YouTube.

Charity Check-in

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article. 

Bipolar UK. This charity is dedicated to supporting people affected by bipolar, offering a range of services, including information and advice, support groups, workplace training and remote support. Find out more.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Since 2005, this charity works to help people end their misery, but not their lives. Find out more here.

PAPYRUS UK. This charity works to end and prevent suicide in young people across the UK. Support them here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health And Wellbeing.