On World Bipolar Day, Luke Grant is joined by Rachel Green, SANE Australia CEO, who says maintaining healthy and meaningful relationships with carers, friends and family is vital for people living with bipolar disorder… a medical condition which affects the brain causing extreme mood changes.

Some people mainly experience highs. Some experience mainly lows, and some experience both extremes. Bipolar disorder affects around one in 50 people at some time in their lives.

Of the 1,912 people living with complex mental health issues surveyed through SANE Australia’s National Stigma Report Card, 95.6% said they had experienced stigma or discrimination in their relationships in the previous 12 months.

Issues included relationships with friends, family, intimate partners, or in their role as parents or caregivers.

“It is important that people living with bipolar disorder are supported by people around them, at work, at home and in the community so they can live full lives, free from stigma and discrimination,” Ms Green said.

“We want more people who live with complex mental health issues to experience support like this too.”

To learn more, and to participate in conversations about bipolar disorder with people with lived experience you can visit SANE Australia’s dedicated web page for World Bipolar Day.

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