This is the fifth episode of Mind ki Baat, a Newslaundry podcast with a neurodivergent host with a focus on the invisible epidemic of mental health issues in society today.

In this episode, we’ll try and understand bipolar disorder, previously termed manic depressive disorder. In simplest terms, it’s a condition that primarily affects a person’s moods, which can swing from one extreme to another. But this definition, while technically correct, does not portray its magnitude and complexity. Living with bipolar disorder can be debilitating, and multiple studies have shown that people with bipolar disorder are among the most vulnerable in society, if left without support.

This episode features conversations with Sandhya, a journalist and writer, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder a decade ago. Since then, she’s been trying to raise awareness about it. We also speak to Dr Alok Kulkarni, a senior consultant psychiatrist at the Manas Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Hubli, Karnataka. He was awarded the IMH Marshall fellowship by the University of British Columbia for 2022-23 to research bipolar disorder.

Tune in!

Resources

Bipolar India

International Bipolar Foundation

Credits

Script and host: Shardool Katyayan

Producer: Lipi Vats, Chanchal Gupta

Editor: Umrav Singh

Design: Shambhavi Thakur

Research: Shardool Katyayan