Reflection by Charlotte Barber
To mark World Bipolar Day, Bipolar Life held a full-day community event on Sunday, 29 March 2026 in partnership with CORE-BD. Any nerves I had about attending alone dissolved almost immediately when a fellow attendee struck up a conversation in the elevator and asked what brought me here. I explained that I’m a Psychology Honours student researching bipolar disorder, wanting to broaden my understanding beyond the narrow slice my project covers. It is also a condition I have loved experience of, and I had never been in a space where both lived and loved experience was shared so openly.
I attended an expert panel with Prof Sue Cotton, Dr Emma Morton, Associate Prof Aswin Ratheesh, and Prof Greg Murray. While the entire discussion was fascinating, one particular metaphor stuck with me. In response to a question around how someone arrives at a bipolar disorder diagnosis, Dr Morton asked us to imagine we are each born with a bucket. We begin with it pre-filled to different levels – by genetics and aspects of life outside our control. As we develop, stressful life events may continue to fill it. The point at which our bucket overflows will differ for everyone. Importantly, the situation is not hopeless. We cannot remove our genetics from the bucket, but medication can reduce their impact. We cannot rewrite someone’s experience of childhood bullying, but we can support the development of healthy coping strategies in adulthood. In doing so, we can help people add a bit of space back to their bucket.
I was moved by the generosity of the lived experience panel and other community members who shared their stories. Being in a space where people felt safe to speak openly was a powerful reminder of how events like this can help break down stigma. I left feeling energised to continue my research, grounded in the voices at the centre of this work.
