World Bipolar Day: 5 Ways We Can Raise Awareness of Bipolar Disorder in 2025
While we have made headways in erasing the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder, we still have a long way to go. There is still a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to this condition. For instance, many people believe that bipolar disorder is nothing more than moodiness. Shame and stigma keep people with bipolar disorder from getting help.
The good news is that there is a lot more awareness of bipolar disorder and mental health in general. Conversations in the workplace and on social media seem to be more open and real. This is good because one of the best ways to destigmatize something is to talk about it.
How to End the Negative Stigma Around Bipolar Disorder
Here are five of the best things that you can do to raise awareness of bipolar illness.
#1 Talk About It
I am a huge supporter of mental health awareness days like World Bipolar Day, which is on March 30th, the birthday of famous artist Vincent van Gogh, who experts believe lived with the disorder. The objective of World Bipolar Day is to inform the public about bipolar disorder and help reduce bipolar stigma. So, in honor of that, here are some ways that we can continue to raise awareness of bipolar disorder in 2025.
A great way to destigmatize bipolar disorder is to post about World Bipolar Day on social media. Talk about it in your workplace. You might not be ready to be open about your own struggle with bipolar disorder, and that’s completely okay. Simply mentioning that you support awareness is a good place to start.
#2 Donate to Mental Health Organizations
Consider donating to organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This is one of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organizations. NAMI provides support and education to those living with bipolar disorder. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is another great organization to support. They provide identity-focused support groups for those with bipolar disorder. There are many ways to get involved with DBSA. You can become a peer specialist or start a chapter in your community.
#3 Commit To Taking Care of Your Mental Health
Collectively, we can raise mental health awareness by simply taking care of our own mental health. There are many ways to do that — from going to therapy to journaling. You can also permit yourself to take a mental health day when you need one, consider cutting back on alcohol, or make it a habit to practice five minutes of meditation daily. These are small, less intimidating, but powerful ways to inject wellness into your routine.
#4 Speak Out Against Stigma
If you have been on social media lately, there’s a good chance that you have come across comments and posts that have a negative stigma around bipolar disorder. Examples include comments laughing at a celebrity who is having a manic episode, calling them “insane” or “crazy.” Even more harmful are comments calling a person who commits suicide “selfish” or saying they “don’t care about others.” This is not true at all. When you notice posts like this, don’t stay quiet. Speak up to end stigma.
#5 Check In With Others
If you know someone with bipolar disorder, check in with them to see how they are doing. It doesn’t matter how you reach out — whether it’s by text message, telephone, or in person. The important thing is to ask how your loved one is doing. Wondering how to start the conversation? It could be something as simple as “How have you been feeling lately?” Actively listen to what they are saying. If they are struggling with the highs or lows of bipolar disorder, help them find mental health resources.
That’s it — in celebration of World Bipolar Day, here are five easy ways to raise bipolar disorder awareness in 2025. Remember: The above are things that you can do on any day of the year to reduce stigma.
