Kanye West is praised by a top psychiatrist for his ‘refreshing’ take on his bipolar disorder in his new hit album Ye
- West was only diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years ago, when he was 39
- He recently declared his mental condition was ‘not a disability but a superpower’
- Wendy Burns, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, praised West
Hip-hop artist Kanye West has been praised by a top psychiatrist for his ‘refreshing’ taking on bipolar disorder in his new album.
In a candid interview promoting ‘Ye’, West – only diagnosed with the condition two years ago – declared it was ‘not a disability but a superpower’.
The cover of the star’s new album has the words ‘I hate being bi-polar it’s awesome’ scrawled across it in neon green.
Professor Wendy Burns, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK, yesterday praised the 41-year-old for speaking out about bipolar disorder.
In a blog for the British Medical Journal, she wrote that West ‘divides opinion to say the least’ but added: ‘Much credit to him for sharing this [his diagnosis].
In a candid interview promoting ‘Ye’, West – only diagnosed with the condition two years ago – declared it was ‘not a disability but a superpower’
‘Among a sea of public figures who are more than happy to talk about milder mental conditions, severe conditions are still cloaked under a certain kind of unacceptableness – spoken of far more rarely.
‘Hearing positive, empowering language around mental illness is refreshing, making West’s revelation all the more powerful in minimising stigma.’
Professor Burns added that she was not ‘trying to bag tickets to Kanye’s next UK tour for one of my offspring by name dropping’.
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She added: ‘The condition he speaks about, and other serious mental illnesses, can be completely debilitating without support.’
‘If a global star was almost 40 before being diagnosed and supported for a severe mental illness, it’s too easy to see how everyone who isn’t Kanye West could go far longer without support.
‘We need to ensure that we have enough skilled doctors to stop this from continuing for yet another generation.’
The cover of the star’s new album has the words ‘I hate being bi-polar it’s awesome’ scrawled across it in neon green
Professor Wendy Burns, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, yesterday praised the 41-year-old for speaking out about bipolar disorder
It is estimated that 570 more psychiatrists are needed by 2021 to meet Government targets – but Professor Burns said this was a ‘tall order’.
However, she pointed to recent figures which show there has been a 30 per cent rise in the number of doctors choosing to train in psychiatry.
Professor Burns said: ‘I’m certain that more open attitudes to mental illness and de-stigmatisation have played a large part in this.’
There has been a great deal of speculation on West’s health over the past few years but this is the first confirmation of an official diagnosis.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that can cause sufferers to experience episodes that shift between extreme highs called mania and lows called depression.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, it strikes about 2.6 per cent of people in the US. Figures suggest it strikes more than a million in the UK.
West – who turned 41 today – opened up about his diagnosis with bipolar disorder in an interview after his listening party for ‘Ye’ in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, last week.
He spoke to radio host Big Boy straight after and opened up. He said: ‘I had never been diagnosed until I was 39.’
In ‘Yikes’, which is currently listed as number 17 in the Spotify charts – just eight days after the album was released, West also tackled his condition.
He rapped: ‘That’s why I f*** with Ye. See, that’s my third person. That’s my bipolar s***, what? That’s my superpower, ain’t no disability. I’m a superhero!’
In other lyrics on the album, West addresses his suicidal thoughts and fears that his wife Kim Kardashian will leave him.
WHAT IS BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects sufferers’ moods.
People with the condition experience periods of emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). These episodes of depression can occur rarely or multiple times per year.
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but researchers believe it is a mix of several factors including biological differences in brain structure and genetics.
Although bipolar disorder can occur at any age, it is typically diagnosed in the teenage years or early 20s.
There are four basic types of bipolar disorder and all of them involve distinct change is mood, energy or activity levels:
Treatment for bipolar disorder differ but it generally involves a combination of medication therapy and lifestyle changes.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, it strikes about 2.6 per cent of people in the US. Figures suggest it strikes more than a million in the UK.
Source: Mayo Clinic
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