Those living with the misunderstood condition face social stigma and a lack of support in public clinics and hospitals.
- Wits students and mental health experts gathered to challenge the stigma and silence around bipolar disorder.
- The event revealed that there are serious shortages of mental health resources in South Africa’s public healthcare system.
- Personal testimonies from people living with bipolar highlighted why breaking the silence must go hand in hand with upholding their human dignity.
The extreme highs and dark lows of bipolar disorder often make for an isolating experience of living with this condition. To break the silence, Wits Pathology Society brought together students, experts, and advocates to tackle stigma and talk about the challenges of treating this mental illness.
At the event held on Thursday, May 15, experts emphasised that talking about the impact of bipolar disorder is important, but the way we do so also matters.
Dr Vinola Poliah, a psychiatrist at Sterkfontein Hospital and Akeso Crescent Clinic, stressed that using words like “crazy” or “unstable” to describe someone living with bipolar is not only hurtful but also reinforces negative stereotypes.
Another issue that was raised is the limited access to mental health services in South Africa. There is a shortage of psychiatrists, especially in the public sector. Poliah said, “twenty percent of South Africans will experience a depressive disorder at least once in their life.”
“The most frightening statistic of all for me is that twenty-three South Africans attempt or commit suicide every day, and with bipolar disorder we have the highest rates of suicide.”
Many people diagnosed with bipolar disorder struggle to access a mental health professional in times of crisis or to receive ongoing support, such as therapy and sometimes costly medication, which may worsen their experience of living with this condition.
“I have been to hospitals where I can sit an entire day and wait with a person needing psychiatric assistance,” said Mary-Anne Dobrovic, manager at the South African Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorders Alliance.
“There are just too many patients for the number of doctors. Our doctors in most of the clinics and government hospitals are overrun,” she continued.
The event also provided a safe space for people living with bipolar to share their experiences. Theuns Lombard, a former army nurse and paramedic, shared his story of being diagnosed with bipolar hypomania more than twenty years ago.
He made a point to emphasise that this disorder is not his identity. “I have bipolar disorder, but I don’t suffer from it. I am not suffering. This is a diagnosis, it doesn’t define me,” he said. Monthly counselling sessions and periodic checkups with a psychiatrist to tweak his medication as needed, help keep Lombard more balanced.
The event challenged the idea that bipolar is about mere mood swings. It’s a serious condition that deserves real support, not just sympathy. Change starts with how we speak, but it can’t stop there. It must reach the healthcare system, meant to effectively care for those living with the disorder.
FEATURED IMAGE: An estimated 20% of South Africans experience a depressive disorder at least once in their lives, with bipolar affecting 4% of the population. Graphic: Mbali Khumalo
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