World Bipolar Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD), ANBD and International Bipolar Foundation
About World Bipolar Day
World Bipolar Day is observed March 30 through a campaign coordinated by the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, the International Bipolar Foundation and the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder.
The organizers identify March 30, 2014, as the inception date. Their aim is greater understanding, reduced stigma and more constructive conversations about care and lived experiences.
Why World Bipolar Day matters
Bipolar disorders are medical conditions with varied experiences, and people living with them should not be reduced to a diagnosis or stereotype.
Awareness activities should center consent, accessible support and responsible information, rather than offering clinical predictions or treatment instructions for individuals.
History of World Bipolar Day
The international partners developed a coordinated awareness campaign, first observed March 30, 2014, according to the World Bipolar Day organizers.
They selected March 30 because it is Vincent van Gogh’s birthday; descriptions of a possible posthumous diagnosis are retrospective interpretations, not a confirmed clinical diagnosis.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
ISBD, IBPF and ANBD
Campaign About page identifies all three founding collaborating organizations.
First documented observance
Official World Bipolar Day About page states the March 30 inception in 2014.
ISBD and partner patient and professional organizations
ISBD maintains the current annual campaign.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
5 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe World Bipolar Day
Read material from mental-health clinical bodies and patient-led organizations.
Challenge stigmatizing language while respecting others’ confidentiality.
Promote access to evidence-based care and voluntary peer support.
World Bipolar Day Facts
The campaign date is March 30.
Its organizing partners include ISBD, IBPF and ANBD.
Organizers trace the inception to 2014 and the date to van Gogh’s birthday.
World Bipolar Day Messages
World Bipolar Day is a chance to replace stigma with understanding.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
International Bipolar Foundation — World Bipolar Day (opens in a new tab)
First Party Organizer
ISBD — World Bipolar Day (opens in a new tab)
Organizer Dedicated Page
World Bipolar Day — About the campaign (opens in a new tab)
First Party Organizer
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Bipolar Day?
30 March The documented recurrence rule is: 30 March.
Does World Bipolar Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Bipolar Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Organizer-backed worldwide mental-health awareness observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Bipolar Day?
The documented basis is: International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD), ANBD and International Bipolar Foundation. Supporting evidence includes ISBD — World Bipolar Day. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is World Bipolar Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Organizer-backed worldwide mental-health awareness observance. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-09.
When is World Bipolar Day?
March 30 every year.
Who organizes it?
ISBD, IBPF and ANBD are the campaign’s founding collaborators.
Why March 30?
It is Vincent van Gogh’s birthday; a posthumous psychiatric interpretation is not proof of a diagnosis.
Does the day offer diagnosis or treatment advice?
No. Individual assessment and treatment belong with qualified healthcare professionals.
Other observances on March 30
These observances are also listed on March 30, 2027.
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A/RES/77/161
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