As twinkling lights adorn homes and shoppers flock to UK high streets, the joy of Christmas can sometimes mask deeper concerns. What appears as harmless holiday cheer – from impulsive gift splurges to all-night revelry – may indicate something more serious for those with undiagnosed bipolar disorder.
National mental health charity Bipolar UK is urging the public to look beyond the tinsel this festive season, highlighting how Christmas pressures can trigger hypomanic episodes in vulnerable individuals.
Undiagnosed bipolar in the UK
The charity estimates that around one million people in the UK, approximately 2% of the population, live with bipolar disorder. However, delays in diagnosis are common, and over half of these individuals remain undiagnosed, leaving them at significant risk.
Recent data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey shows that bipolar affects about 2 in 100 people over their lifetime, with symptoms often emerging before age 21 but going unrecognised for an average of 9.5 years. This delay hinders access to specialist treatment and leaves many navigating life-altering mood swings without support, exacerbating risks during high-stress periods like Christmas.
Christmas as a trigger
Experts warn that the festive season can intensify bipolar symptoms due to stress, excitement, extra alcohol, disrupted routines, and lack of sleep. If left untreated, hypomanic symptoms may escalate to mania, which usually requires hospital treatment.
Bipolar UK’s relaunched “Maybe it’s bipolar?” campaign, which premiered a short film on 12th November 2025 created by ambassadors Rosie Viva and April Kelley, emphasises these seasonal vulnerabilities. The film uses a split-screen format to depict stark shifts between high-energy impulsivity and crushing lows, aiming to reach younger audiences where nearly half of cases first appear.
Key signs of hypomania
For some, undiagnosed bipolar symptoms include hypersexual behaviour, risky decision-making, or impulsive spending on extravagant gifts. These behaviours, often dismissed as “Christmas spirit,” can lead to regret and isolation if unchecked.
Bipolar UK highlights four key hypomania signs particularly relevant during the festive season
- Extreme overspending
- Non-stop partying
- Reduced need for sleep
- Heightened risk-taking, including hypersexual activity
The charity’s free online Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) serves as an initial screening tool to reflect on mood patterns and energy shifts, though only a psychiatrist can confirm a diagnosis.
Expert insights
Simon Kitchen, CEO of Bipolar UK, said: “As part of our ‘Maybe it’s bipolar?’ campaign, we’re highlighting symptoms that can get worse around Christmas. We want to help anyone who suspects they might be living with bipolar to recognise the signs, take action and avoid years of living with confusing symptoms, misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.
If you notice a pattern of symptoms – extreme overspending, nonstop festive partying, or very little need for sleep – during the Christmas period, either in yourself or someone you care about, it could be a sign of bipolar.
The earlier someone with bipolar gets a diagnosis and specialist treatment, the better their chances of living well in the longer term. Without it, people living with undiagnosed bipolar are at risk of losing their jobs, relationships, homes, and, tragically, even their lives.”
Bipolar disorder carries the highest risk of suicide among mental health conditions, with global research estimating that 15%–20% of people with bipolar will die by suicide, and 60% will attempt it at least once during their lifetime.
NHS support and campaign efforts
The NHS Long Term Plan, updated through 2025, prioritises faster bipolar diagnoses via community services and psychological therapies, yet waiting lists persist, with mood disorders driving a surge in GP mental health appointments.
The Christmas awareness campaign builds on a pilot that reached 1.5 million people in six months, integrating peer stories and resources like mood-tracking journals to provide timely care, reduce treatment gaps, and lower suicide risk.
Personal stories: April Kelley
April Kelley, Bipolar UK ambassador and actor, was diagnosed at 27 after 10 years of misdiagnosis and inappropriate medication that worsened her symptoms. She shared: “This time of year can be hard, especially before my diagnosis. I have bought excessive gifts for family and friends, including flights to America for my parents and Jager bombs for an entire bar. I slept less, partied more and found myself spiralling without the ability to ground myself.
Even though they seem like standard feelings, they’re not for me, they’re on an astronomical level which jeopardised a lot in my life. Receiving a diagnosis ultimately saved my life.”
Post-diagnosis, Kelley channels her experiences into advocacy, co-creating the campaign film to normalise conversations around bipolar and mental health during holidays.
Clinical perspective
Dr Thomas Richardson, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Southampton, said: “Someone with bipolar may have stable periods but can then move into a low (depression) or high (hypomania, mania, or even psychosis). Hypomanic or manic episodes are not the same as feeling ‘a bit high’ after a festive night out. Bipolar mood swings are far more intense, long-lasting, and damaging.
They affect sleep, energy levels, and behaviour, such as impulsive spending. When people are manic, they can have poor judgment and make decisions they regret. Christmas is particularly challenging for those living with the condition.”