Adam's Story

Adam Deacon, Bipolar UK’s newest ambassador, gave his perspective on living with the condition that connects him with over 1.3 million people in the UK. In part one of his serialised account Adam talks about the importance of young men connecting with the help they need.

In speaking with Adam it’s clear that he is exceptionally passionate about ensuring his lived experience gives people connecting with him on his platforms a sense that whilst you cannot cure bipolar disorder you can manage the condition.

He has a depth to his journey that will resonate with many treading the same path and similarly he is aware of the need to normalise discussions and the sharing of stories around mental health. Speaking to Bipolar UK recently he said, “What I’m hoping is that my story can be circulated to a wider audience. Something that has been really important to me is getting this story out to as many young men as possible to let them know that there is help out there.”

Whilst Adam is well aware of the many organisations that are fit for purpose and can assist those in need, particularly in the field of mental health, he is keen to clarify that specific support around bipolar disorder needs clearer signposting as he continues, “There is a lot of help out there for mental health, but sometimes you have to break that down and signpost people to bipolar disorder help specifically.”

In ignoring issues around mental health it is quite common for those aspects that have been left unaddressed to manifest in other ways. Adam is well aware of how difficult it is to seek out support when you are fighting stigma and common misunderstandings about bipolar. He said, “I went through years of depression and was really scared of the stigma so kept it bottled up. I went to the doctors and found there wasn’t enough help out there in terms of counselling and therapy. I let things get out of control. I got arrested in 2014 and it took the police to get me that help that I needed, and I ended up being sectioned.”

Conversations around mental health and indeed normalising dialogue around bipolar disorder needs to happen at an earlier stage in a young adult’s development. Something that Adam is keen to ensure gets more attention. “I think there needs to be more counsellors working in primary schools and secondary schools, working with young people,” he said. Continuing he offered, “Hopefully these counsellors would be able to spot these signs quicker. I know if I had this kind of help when I was younger they would have identified that I had a pretty traumatic childhood and could have given me the support earlier.”

Bipolar UK is keen to continue dialogue around many of the themes outlined in Adam’s experience. Many of these issues can be discussed in a moderated eCommunity that is open 24 hours a day. A safe environment where you can receive support from like-minded individuals also living with bipolar disorder.

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