MDF members have been assisting Lacey Turner – who plays Stacey Slater in EastEnders -  with her current storyline. In the popular soap, Stacey is diagnosed with Bipolar disorder just as her mother had some years before. The scriptwriters and editors worked with MDF to ensure that the portrayal of Bipolar was sympathetic and accurate.

The portrayal of mental illness in soap operas is not so new however  – remember the when the character Joe Wicks in EastEnders had a schizophrenic episode? I remember that it was enthusiastically received by people with schizophrenia at the time.

There is evidence to show that the storyline has encouraged young people to seek help for bipolar mood swings – apparently the number of 18-24 year olds seeking help for Bipolar has doubled in recent months.  Bipolar disorder is often first diagnosed at this age (I know I was!) so this encouragement can only be a good thing.

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