Two thirds of UK adults wouldn't recognise bipolar symptoms

Public understanding of bipolar is improving, but most people in the UK still struggle to spot the signs, according to new research commissioned by national mental health charity Bipolar UK.

A nationally representative YouGov survey of 2000 UK adults found that while attitudes towards people with bipolar are becoming more positive, nearly two thirds (63%) say they would not be able to identify the symptoms of bipolar in themselves or those close to them.

Bipolar UK says the results highlight the need for better public education. Through their ‘Maybe it’s bipolar?’ campaign, the charity is raising awareness of common signs of hypomania, including periods of low mood followed by overspending, reduced need for sleep, and hypersexual behaviour, among others.

People who recognise these patterns are encouraged to take a simple online test, not to self-diagnose but to explore whether their experiences could be linked to bipolar.

The charity estimates that around one million people in the UK, approximately 1 in 50, are living with bipolar. Yet, with delays to diagnosis common, it is believed that over half of them (56%) remain undiagnosed, placing them at significant risk.

While this latest survey found that public attitudes towards people with bipolar have improved compared to previous years, there is still a clear gap in knowledge. 1 in 5 (20%) people believe bipolar involves mood swings multiple times a day, 4% still believe people living with bipolar are dangerous. Some free-text responses highlighted the stigma that persists, with one person saying they would “steer well clear” and another describing bipolar as “a made-up condition”.

Speaking about the data, Deputy CEO of Bipolar UK, Rosie Phillips, said: “Understanding the public perceptions of bipolar is a way for us, as a charity, to ensure we’re bridging that gap between awareness and real understanding. Our aim is to make sure people living with bipolar, and those who love them, get the best possible support, resources and information.

“Bipolar is a severe mental illness that affects mood, energy and day-to-day functioning. People with bipolar may experience long periods of stability, alongside ‘lows’ (depression) and ‘highs’ (hypomania or mania and psychosis), or sometimes a ‘mixed state’ of both at the same time.

“While some of the results showed a distinct lack of understanding about bipolar, there were other results that gave us some hope, such as that 72% of people do believe those living with bipolar can manage their condition with the right treatment and support.

“This is true, yet there is still no specialist bipolar care pathway in the UK, which would speed up diagnosis and ultimately save lives. Until then, we’re striving to help people by raising awareness of signs and symptoms, providing support and leading research to enable brighter futures for those in the bipolar community.”

This latest survey comes as part of the charity’s objective to gauge the public’s understanding of bipolar, its symptoms and where people would turn for support. Bipolar has the highest risk of suicide of any mental health condition and global research estimates that 15-20% of people living with bipolar will die by suicide, and 50% of people with bipolar will attempt suicide at least once during their lifetime, a rate much higher than in the general population. 

“This is why recognising the symptoms of bipolar and getting an accurate diagnosis is extremely important, as it can be effectively managed with medication, lifestyle changes, and other treatments,” adds Phillips.

With bipolar symptoms commonly first noticeable in teenagers and young adults (almost 50% of people get symptoms before the age of 21) many people spend years living with unmanaged symptoms and/or potential misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.

April Kelley, Bipolar UK ambassador, actor, writer, and Sundance award-winning producer, said: “I was experiencing anger and impulsivity but didn't realise they were symptoms of bipolar. I didn’t even know what bipolar was but the impact it had on me and my life for the 12 years before my diagnosis was almost catastrophic.

While public understanding of bipolar is improving, most people still wouldn’t recognise the signs in themselves or those close to them, leading Bipolar UK to continue prompting friends and family of people with unexplained symptoms to access their Maybe it’s bipolar? campaign and begin their journey to diagnosis.