RHS BIPOLAR PROJECT

Emotional States: ‘Overwhelmed’

Hi All,

This entry was selected for the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show Long Border Competition 2020, which sadly could not go ahead due to the COID-19 pandemic. This campaign raised awareness of bipolar and how nature can help people who are neurodiverse. Bipolar significantly increases the risk of suicide and often goes undiagnosed for years. Access to both nature and free mental health support are vital for people who are neurodiverse and may not know it. Thank you to everyone who donated to mental health charity MIND.

Thank you for your support,

Nicola Stevens

NHS statistics show at least 2% of people are bipolar and other research suggests as many as 5% on this spectrum.

On average it takes 10.5 years to receive a correct diagnosis for bipolar in the UK

Before bipolar is diagnosed there is a misdiagnosis an average of 3.5 times.

Just 21% of people with a long-term mental health condition are in employment.

Bipolar increases the risk of suicide by 20 times.

RHS Autism Project

Climate Action Project

Click here for free advice from MIND on managing your mental health and wellbeing during the COVID - 19 lockdown.

Visit this webpage for a first person perspective on managing Bipolar and managing mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Description of the Exhibit

"Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, 'Overwhelmed' shows the ups and downs associated with depression. Vibrant planting communicates intense feelings with a transition from darkness and fear to happiness and light.

In letters written to his family, Van Gogh explained how he painted in nature settings to alleviate his mental health symptoms and intentionally used vibrant colours to capture and express his emotions.

Experts believe that the artist's intense emotions and repeated episodic behaviour were caused by bipolar where the emotions experienced vary to extremes causing changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behaviour.

The artist's emotions often overwhelmed him to the point of being unable to leave the bedroom at home or in the hospital where he spent his later years. In these times he would paint his immediate surroundings including his furniture, and used such everyday items to symbolise the importance of key relationships or issues in his life."