The Week of World Bipolar Day 2017

Each year on March 30th, the birthday of Vincent van Gogh, our team takes part in World Bipolar Day. Van Gogh was posthumously diagnosed as likely having lived with bipolar disorder; on World Bipolar Day, van Gogh’s life and works might help us to reflect on both the positives and the negatives of bipolar disorder. Already a professional artist, van Gogh voluntarily sought help for his mental health challenges, which began the period of his hospitalization. This period was his most productive as an artist; during the year he was hospitalized (1888 – 1889), he painted some of the works which have touched people most and made the most important impacts upon art history. His productivity during this period has been well-linked to his illness — highlighting that the condition can, to many who live with it, feel like a “double-edged sword” that has negative, but also some positive, aspects.

This World Bipolar Day, you can focus on your strengths by taking part in the International Bipolar Foundation’s (ISBD) photo campaign and sharing your passion or the passion of your loved ones who live with bipolar disorder. Read about the ISBD campaign here.

Next week is going to be a busy and exciting week for us at CREST.BD and company. The Bipolar Blog will be producing multiple blogs in multiple languages, as well as some video content to go along with World Bipolar Day 2017 (or World Bipolar Week, if you will). If you’re in Vancouver, BC, you can join us on World Bipolar Day at the HOpe Centre in North Vancouver for a casual q&a. Click here for details of the event.

Keep an eye out on our social media channels for more events leading up to and on World Bipolar Day 2017.

Image: Vincent van Gogh, Window in the Studio, 1889 (cropped)