World Bipolar Day 2026

Denis Duagi

Research Manager

In September 2025, Dr Denis Duagi joined Bipolar UK as a postdoctoral Research Manager.
A mental health researcher specialising in lived experience–led approaches to policy and service development, Denis completed a PhD in Public Mental Health at King’s College London, where she designed and led a mixed-methods evaluation of school-based mental health interventions, focusing on long-term impact and policy translation.
Alongside her academic expertise, Denis brings lived experience of bipolar, which has shaped her commitment to inclusive and impactful research.

Dr Sameer Jauhar

Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr Sameer Jauhar is a consultant psychiatrist and clinical academic at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Clinical Lecturer in Mood Disorders and Psychosis at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London known nationally and internationally for his research into mood disorders and psychosis. Sameer mainly looks after the care of young people with first episode psychosis (including bipolar disorder). His current research interests are the neurobiology and treatments for bipolar.

Em Holdaway

Mental Health Advocate

Em is a self-termed (and very irreverent) 'madwoman' with complex mental health issues spanning several decades, who spends her free time discussing life with - and after - both chronic and acute psychiatric crises. With most major symptomatic aspects of her mental health in remission, Em is passionate about shining a light on the aspects of mental health disorders that are neither catastrophised nor glamourised; in particular, bridging the dissonance between the clinical comprehension of psychiatric disorders as diagnosed by professionals, and the complicated 'lived experience' lens that can muddy diagnosis - and, more importantly, treatment.

Leah Charles-King

TV Presenter, Producer, Speaker and Mental Health Campaigner

Leah Charles-King is a TV presenter, producer and mental health campaigner with over 40 years’ experience in the entertainment industry. She currently presents Channel 4’s 'A Place in the Sun' and is the creator of Legacy Through the Lens - a YouTube platform celebrating legacy, mental wellness and creative storytelling.

A proud Bipolar UK ambassador, Leah uses her lived experience to raise awareness, support suicide prevention and challenge stigma - particularly within Black communities - and inspires others to thrive in spite of a bipolar diagnosis.

Melanie Blumenthal

Entrepreneur

Melanie Ceysson Blumenthal is an entrepreneur with a profound knowledge of marketing and communications, and a proud ambassador for Bipolar UK. Living with someone who has bipolar disorder has given her a deep insight into the challenges faced by both individuals and their loved ones, and the level of support they need.

She and her husband, Heston Blumenthal, are committed to bringing debate about bipolar into the mainstream. Together they worked on the BBC documentary Heston: My Life with Bipolar.

Melanie is passionate about raising awareness of bipolar disorder, speaking openly about the importance of understanding mental health, and challenging the stigma that often surrounds it. Through her advocacy, she hopes to foster greater support and understanding for those affected by bipolar.

Molly

Bipolar UK Services Manager

Molly joined the Bipolar UK team as a Peer Support Line volunteer in 2018, progressing to a full-time employee soon after the end of the volunteering period and transitioning into a senior role in 2021. Molly has an academic background in psychology, with experience in both statutory and third-sector mental health care.

Professor Tania Gergel

Director of Research

In February 2023, Professor Tania Gergel joined Bipolar UK as our first ever Director of Research. Her work focuses on putting the lived experience of mental illness at the centre of mental health research and policy.
Alongside a team at King’s College London and colleagues at the Department of Health and Social Care, Tania’s research has been used to help deliver Advance Choice Documents as a central element of the new Mental Health Bill.
Tania provides an influential advisory role with the aim of getting more coproduction and engagement into research projects, and she has an ongoing focus on understanding suicide and diagnosis in bipolar.
Professor Tania Gergel holds professorships at Cardiff University and University College London.

Robyn Holdaway

Actor

Robyn is a non-binary actor best known for their work as Layla in Netflix's 'Sex Education'. Their credits also include: AMC's 'Moonhaven', BBC's 'Strike: Lethal White', and various other stage and screen roles. Their audiobook work includes the award winning 'Our Wives Under the Sea', as well as critically acclaimed 'Sistersong', 'How To Understand Your Gender', and 'Skin'. They are an active member of the LGBTQ community, and they are passionate about bringing this diversity into the mainstream both as an artist and as an activist. On social media they create content, along with their wife Em, about queerness and mental health.

Rosie Van Amerongen

Model, Presenter and Author

Rosie van Amerongen (aka Rosie Viva) is a model, presenter and author of ‘Completely Normal and Totally Fine: My Life with Bipolar Disorder’ where she shares her powerful journey through mania, depression and recovery.

Diagnosed with bipolar at the age of 22, in 2023 Rosie made a short digital documentary with Channel 4 about her day-to-day experiences of living with bipolar.

Simon Kitchen

CEO

Simon has been CEO of Bipolar UK since April 2018. His previous roles include leading one of the largest co-production initiatives in adult social care at Leonard Cheshire Disability and running the social action movement at the Dementia Action Alliance. He has also held a number of policy and research roles in Whitehall and in the regions. He is passionate about peer support and giving people with bipolar greater choice and control over their lives. He has a family connection to bipolar.