Bipolar Disorder: Awareness, Treatment & Support in France

Bipolar disorder affects between 1, and 2.5% of the population, according to data from public health authorities. This mental health condition, characterized by alternating periods of euphoria and depression, is considered a serious illness, with 15% of those affected attempting suicide. Understanding the challenges faced by individuals with bipolar disorder is crucial for improving access to care and reducing stigma.

A local chapter of the Argos 2001 association, established in September 2025 and already boasting over 80 members, is hosting an event in Angers to mark International Bipolar Day on March 30. The date was intentionally chosen to coincide with the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, a well-known artist who lived with bipolar disorder. Marion Tessier, head of the Angers branch, discusses the difficulties and hopes surrounding this condition.

> READ As well: Cathy, living with bipolar disorder: “There were days I had to repeat my children’s names for fear of forgetting them.”

Why do you believe it’s crucial to dedicate a day to raising awareness of this condition?

Marion Tessier: “There is a day for mental health (October 10, ed. Note), but all pathologies are diluted within it. This provides an opportunity to raise awareness specifically about bipolar disorder, as it is one of the most stigmatized conditions. Even today, people with bipolar disorder encounter significant administrative, social, legal, family, and employment challenges.”

The association is hosting a conference in Paris on the theme “Living with bipolar disorder: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” How has care for this condition evolved?

“Before the first mental health law in 1838, people with psychological issues were simply locked away in asylums, supposedly to protect society from the ‘alienated.’ Thankfully, things have changed. Today, therapies have improved significantly, with better patient care, reduced isolation and restraint, and the creation of calming rooms like the one at Césame in Angers. However, despite mental health being officially a major national cause for authorities, psychiatry remains the poor relation of medicine, with a significant lack of resources and difficulties in supplying certain medications that people with bipolar disorder cannot do without.”

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The diagnostic process can take between seven and ten years, and finding the right treatment often takes a considerable amount of time. What explains this delay?

“We have, within the association, people who waited 15-20 years for a correct diagnosis after being treated for depression for a long time. In the 2000s-2010s, it was thought that bipolar disorder did not occur before the age of 30. So, there is a generation of healthcare providers who are reluctant to believe in an early diagnosis, even though early diagnosis and treatment can be beneficial. Many patients also experience a long period of denial after receiving a diagnosis. As for treatment, this field is also evolving rapidly. Medical schools now teach future doctors that lithium can be prescribed as a first-line treatment. Some older doctors are hesitant, and patients are forced to try many medications before finding the right one.”

Despite these challenges, there is reason to hope for improved care in the future…

“Several research avenues offer hope. First, a blood test to differentiate between unipolar and bipolar depression. Also, increasingly refined brain imaging using MRI, a better understanding of the genetic origins of the condition, and precision psychiatry, which will allow for personalized treatments, are all promising developments. Finally, and Here’s the approach taken by Argos 2001, peer support, recommended by the World Health Organization, is a real solution for the future: breaking isolation is the best anti-suicide remedy, and sharing experiences can really save time. Knowing that you will be ill for life, this is essential. When I tell members that I have been symptom-free for three years, it gives them a lot of hope.”

On Sunday, March 29, Élodie Schwab, who describes herself as an “intermittent artist of madness, balancing on the edge of life in a sick world,” will perform a demonstrate entitled “To be or not to bipolaire.” Diagnosed at age 26, she openly discusses the difficulties of living with this invisible disability, the feeling of being trapped, and the journey to find care. This “gestured conference” will take place at the Césame center in Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire, “an opportunity to de-stigmatize the psychiatric hospital,” says Marion Tessier. It will be followed by a discussion and a shared snack. The event is free but reservations are required via this online form.

In case of crisis, the psychiatric assessment and guidance unit can be reached 24/7 at 02 41 80 75 00. The national helpline of ARGOS 2001 is available Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. To 1 p.m. At 01 46 28 01 03. Contact in Angers: Marion Tessier 06 35 88 64 15 or [email protected].