Hypomania to Depression
Documentary film
Directed, Filmed & Edited by Jingyao Jia
Produced & Edited by Xiaoyu Jiao, Avery Worsley
According to Bipolar UK, 1.3 million people in the UK—one in fifty—live with bipolar disorder, a condition marked by extreme mood swings between mania and depression. As individuals with lived experience, we found the internet a crucial space for mental health discussions, free from the barriers of medical jargon. However, online discourse often fixates on negative aspects, such as self-diagnosis, overshadowing the support these spaces provide.
Our film explores how platforms like TikTok foster global bipolar communities. Collaborating with influencers Anastasia McLean (TheBipolarDiaries) and Veronica Lewinski, we examine how social media enables more accurate portrayals of bipolar disorder. By centering personal agency, we questions stigma and reimagine how bipolar content is created and consumed in the digital age.