Rotary

Rotary and Bipolar UK

Bipolar UK is delighted to be working in partnership with Rotary Great Britain for a third year. Together we aim to improve understanding of bipolar and help many more people reach vital information and support.

Upcoming fundraising events

World Bipolar Day Campaign

Rotary Bipolar eClub

Bipolar UK 40th Birthday Celebrations

Could it be bipolar?

Understanding Bipolar

Bipolar UK

Bipolar UK is the only national charity dedicated to supporting those affected by bipolar and offers a range of support for everyone affected by the condition:

Website resources accessed by 300,000 people every year
Local peer support groups for people affected by bipolar, facilitated by volunteers with lived experience
National online peer support groups
A moderated eCommunity with over 11,000 active users
One-to-one peer support by phone and email
A free annual conference on World Bipolar Day
A free Mood Tracker app to help manage the condition
Taking our 20-minute ‘Understanding bipolar’ eLearning course

'I wouldn't have been able to have the life I do now if it wasn't for Bipolar UK and the amazing people I have met. I owe my life to Bipolar UK and I know others feel the same.' Cameron

The Bipolar Commission

Launched in March 2021, the Bipolar Commission is one of the largest engagement exercises of its kind in the mental health sector. Over 100 experts and people with lived experience were interviewed, and more than 7000 people responded to a series of surveys.

The Commission aims to identify challenges in the healthcare system and to present recommendations for change – positive change that will improve the lives of those affected by bipolar and dramatically reduce the risk of suicide.

The first two reports ‘Bipolar Diagnosis Matters’ and ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ were published in October 2021 and March 2022 respectively. The full Bipolar Commission report will be available in November 2022.

You can read the reports and about the work of the Bipolar Commission here

Get in touch at [email protected]

Bipolar UK resources for Rotarians

There are many myths and misconceptions about what bipolar is and isn’t. One of the ways individual Rotary members and Rotary clubs can make a real difference to our community is by learning more about bipolar and helping others to understand the condition.

You can do this by:

Sharing our three-minute Could it be bipolar? video to support our campaign for earlier diagnosis
Sharing our Mood Scale
Downloading or telling people about our Mood Tracker app
Sharing our peer support services leaflet. Please email [email protected] if you would like a supply to distribute
Taking our 20-minute ‘Understanding bipolar’ eLearning course

Speaker slot resources for your club

Why not show one of our videos in a speaker slot? You can choose from our ever-growing library:

Rotary’s In Focus ‘Staying well with bipolar’

On Wednesday 14^th December, Bipolar UK were the feature of Rotary’s ‘In Focus’ session. We discussed the impact of bipolar and how Rotary members can support Bipolar UK’s vital work.

Guest speakers included:

Guy Goodwin, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Oxford University and world-expert on bipolar
Leah Milner, an award-winning consumer, money and property journalist with lived-experience of bipolar
Simon Kitchen, CEO Bipolar UK, talking about the work of Bipolar UK and how Rotary members can get involved

You can watch the session here:

Recorded for Rotary’s Health Fair in 2023, Bipolar UK ambassador and songwriter/record producer Nicky Chinn chats with Bipolar UK’s Lorna Morgan-Glanfield

Recorded for Rotary’s Health Fair in 2022, Bipolar UK ambassador and songwriter/record producer Nicky Chinn chats with Bipolar UK’s Rosie Phillips about living with bipolar and having a successful career.

In 2021, mental health campaigner Alastair Campbell and actor/screenwriter Adam Deacon recorded this chat about their personal experiences of mental health and bipolar.

If you would like someone from the Bipolar UK team or someone with lived experience of bipolar to speak during your club speaker slot, please get in touch: [email protected]

Webinar series

Bipolar UK is running a series of webinars exploring the bipolar symptoms that no-one ever talks about.

Bipolar and sleep: Sign up to our 'Bipolar and Sleep' webinar with sleep expert Emeritus Professor Kevin Morgan and Luyando Malawo, who lives with bipolar: Wednesday 20 September, 1-2pm.

Bipolar and paranoid behaviour: Sign up to our 'Bipolar and Paranoid Behaviour' webinar with psychiatrist and researcher Dr Sameer Jauhar and Ivan Kennes who lives with bipolar: Wednesday 28 June 2023, 12 -1pm.

Bipolar and overspending: Sign up to our 'Bipolar and Overspending' webinar with Dr Thomas Richardson and April Kelley who lives with bipolar: Wednesday 8 November, 6-7pm.

Bipolar and hypersexual behaviour: Watch our 'Bipolar and Hypersexual Behaviour' webinar with Dr Clare Dolman and Anne Chataigné who lives with bipolar

Supporting Ukrainians affected by bipolar

Together, Bipolar UK and Rotary Great Britain and Ireland have created a leaflet to support Ukrainians in the UK with information about bipolar, mental health and useful links for accessing migrant help, healthcare and translation services.

The information is in both English and Ukrainian.

Please share this information leaflet with anyone, or any organisations, who might find it helpful.