WORLD BIPOLAR DAY 2025
The vision of World Bipolar Day (WBD) is to bring world awareness to bipolar disorders and to eliminate social stigma and discrimination. Through international collaboration, the goal of WBD is to bring diverse populations around the world information about bipolar disorders that will educate and improve sensitivity towards the illness, including access to the latest research and the best treatments.
Since its inception, WBD has officially been observed on March 30th, the birthday of famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, who was diagnosed after his death as likely having bipolar disorder. Once again, this year, the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) will encourage global awareness of bipolar disorder on March 30th. This is a day when we, as a collective of people dedicated to improving science and society for people with bipolar disorder, can unite to celebrate World Bipolar Day with friends, family, research communities and organizations. WBD is a day to remember our strengths, resilience and successes, as well as acknowledge that much work remains ahead.
We will continue to officially observe WBD on March 30th. However, in the spirit of honoring the diverse experiences that come with a global celebration like WBD, it is important that we also acknowledge cultural, spiritual, and regional traditions that may occur during this time. We recognize that only observing WBD on a single day may limit inclusion of diverse communities. We understand that some WBD participants may need to make accommodations to host an event in a way that honors both their personal commitments as well as the needs of the communities they wish to engage. Therefore, we emphasize that any events related to WBD held within the period surrounding March 30th will be celebrated and promoted. Indeed, the values of WBD must be enacted out throughout the year in our thoughts, words and actions.
We continue to encourage allies around the world to plan events to celebrate WBD, and, importantly, to share these events with us at [email protected], so that we and the global community can share in your celebrations and successes. We also wish to take this opportunity to recognize the strength and courage that so many in this community, including those with lived experience and their supporters, show every day. We at ISBD are inspired by the many stories you share of living well with bipolar disorder.
Since its inception, WBD has officially been observed on March 30th, the birthday of famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, who was diagnosed after his death as likely having bipolar disorder. Once again, this year, the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) will encourage global awareness of bipolar disorder on March 30th. This is a day when we, as a collective of people dedicated to improving science and society for people with bipolar disorder, can unite to celebrate World Bipolar Day with friends, family, research communities and organizations. WBD is a day to remember our strengths, resilience and successes, as well as acknowledge that much work remains ahead.
We will continue to officially observe WBD on March 30th. However, in the spirit of honoring the diverse experiences that come with a global celebration like WBD, it is important that we also acknowledge cultural, spiritual, and regional traditions that may occur during this time. We recognize that only observing WBD on a single day may limit inclusion of diverse communities. We understand that some WBD participants may need to make accommodations to host an event in a way that honors both their personal commitments as well as the needs of the communities they wish to engage. Therefore, we emphasize that any events related to WBD held within the period surrounding March 30th will be celebrated and promoted. Indeed, the values of WBD must be enacted out throughout the year in our thoughts, words and actions.
We continue to encourage allies around the world to plan events to celebrate WBD, and, importantly, to share these events with us at [email protected], so that we and the global community can share in your celebrations and successes. We also wish to take this opportunity to recognize the strength and courage that so many in this community, including those with lived experience and their supporters, show every day. We at ISBD are inspired by the many stories you share of living well with bipolar disorder.
