It is time for our reminder about World Bipolar Day 2018. World Bipolar Day is celebrated each year on March 30, the birthday of the artist Vincent Van Gogh, who may have had a bipolar condition. Nowadays, it gives us an opportunity to speak out, to raise awareness and to eliminate social stigma around bipolar conditions.
The theme of the event is “Strength for Today, Hope for the Future.”
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
Vincent Van Gogh
The International Bipolar Foundation is sponsoring a social media campaign: #bipolarstrong and invites anyone to upload a video or photo of themselves with their story. You can share with the world how you are #bipolarstrong! Deadline for submissions is March 27, and the Big Day is March 30.
World Bipolar Day 2018 is an opportunity to make connections, to educate the public, and to tell our own story in our own way. Although the stigma around mental illness has lessened somewhat, at least in some countries, there is still a long way to go to eliminate the stigma and misunderstanding that prevent many people from seeking help or benefiting from mental health care.
World Bipolar Day is sponsored by the International Bipolar Foundation in partnership with the International Society for Bipolar Disorders and the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder. Besides offering the chance to upload your story, they also offer a logo overlay for your social media profile and opportunities to connect with others in similar situations. This type of awareness raising can serve an important purpose, both for individuals and for communities, as we seek to live more creatively and healthily.