Stigmatised, then sacked: Unemployment is rising for people with bipolar in the UK

Nakitta Rozier, who has bipolar II, was let go at work after a trial (Picture: Nakitta Rozier/Metro) James*, 39 from West London, was working as head of security for one of the UK’s biggest attractions in 2024 when he experienced his first bipolar episode. ‘I did some things that are really out of character,’ he tells Metro. ‘For example, I set off a fire alarm, I became aggressive in meetings, [I was] just belligerent and difficult to work with.’ James’ job required him to complete risk assessments on everything from fires to terrorist attacks. Over time, worsening bipolar symptoms, including hallucinations, made him believe that certain incidents had already occurred.  He locked horns with leadership when he felt they weren’t taking his concerns seriously, then a disciplinary process ultimately led to his dismissal.  New data, released to mark World Bipolar Day (March 30th), suggests unemployment among people with the mental health condition has more than doubled in a decade. Charity Bipolar UK analysed data from NHS England Digital’s latest Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) to uncover how the current system is failing to meet the needs of people living with bipolar. James* has not disclosed his bipolar diagnosis to his new employer (Picture: Getty Images) The APMS is a national survey that measures the prevalence of mental health conditions, tracks trends over time and assesses access to treatment. As part of the survey, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) was used to screen for probable cases of bipolar. The findings show that people who tested positive for probable bipolar have experienced a disproportionate rise in unemployment, increasing from 3.9% in 2014 to 9% in 2024. That’s compared to the general UK unemployment rate of 5.2%. The phrase ‘probable bipolar’ is also key here, as the charity found only 17.8% of people who tested positive have received a professional diagnosis. This points to ‘significant underdiagnosis’, they said, which is contributing to misunderstanding about symptoms in the workplace, and workers not receiving adequate support from employers.  Key symptoms of bipolar The NHS describes bipolar disorder as ‘a mental health condition where you have extreme mood changes’. This can include high moods (mania or hypomania) – for example, feeling very happy, excited or energetic. Or low moods (depression) – for example, feeling sad, tired or hopeless. But as Bipolar UK points out, the signs and symptoms of bipolar are varied and unique to each individual. The charity provides a more extensive list of possible signs, including things like recklessness, inappropriate behaviour and confusion. There are three common types of bipolar a person may be diagnosed with – bipolar 1, bopolar 2 and Cyclothymia. Diagnosis takes into account the unique conbination of symptoms experienced. But employees with a diagnosis aren’t fully protected, either. Shortly after being suspended from work, James was sectioned and diagnosed with bipolar. Around the same time, he made ‘a couple of attempts on [his] life’. James says medical professionals wrote to his employer to explain the situation, but they decided to proceed with the disciplinary investigation anyway. Although the Equality Act 2010 is designed to protect individuals with mental health conditions, as Citizens Advice explains, employees are rarely able to claim unfair dismissal if they’re on probation or have worked for the company for less than two years. The latter rule is due to change to six months in 2027.James, frustratingly, was within his 12-month probationary period in 2024, and was dismissed under gross misconduct.  ‘They just hid behind the 12-month probation and said my performance wasn’t good enough,’ he says. ‘Whether that is morally correct or not, I don’t really think it is.’ Nakitta Rozier, based in Harwich, Essex, was also let go after the trial period of a job. The 31-year-old first began experiencing bipolar symptoms when she was 14, with ‘uncontrollable emotions’ that didn’t match the hormonal challenges of her peers. ‘I was experiencing depression that was so severe I felt like I didn’t want to leave the house,’ she tells Metro. ‘And then when I was on a high, I was going out underage drinking, even though I was still in school.’ Nakitta struggles to trust employers after her past experience (Picture: Supplied) Nakitta’s behaviour was dismissed by doctors as ‘regular teenage rebellion’. It wasn’t until March 2019, when she attempted to take her own life, that she received a diagnosis of Bipolar II. ‘I was just in the worst depressive episode I’d ever been in,’ she recalls. ‘I was worried about money, worried about my health, drinking, everything. At that point I was sort of sofa surfing between friends’ houses. I had a home, but I felt embarrassed to be going back to my parents’ house in the state that I was in.’ Nakitta left hospital with medication and was referred to a psychiatrist, who she says described her as ‘high functioning’ and discharged her from ongoing support after just two sessions.Seven months later, she began a new job working in children’s safeguarding. ‘That’s a lot of responsibility,’ says Nakitta, ‘but I’m a very empathetic, caring person. I felt like I’d be good at the job.’ During her trial, Nakitta requested some time off. ‘I just needed a couple of days to catch up with my emotions and regulate myself,’ she says. ‘This happened a couple of times and I was called into a meeting with the managers and HR.’ She disclosed her diagnosis, but managers told Nakitta they would not be making her a full-time employee when the trial ended, citing that she hadn’t completed the role as needed – which she disputes. ‘They outright told me they could go and research bipolar, and figure out a programme of support, but they were not going to dedicate the time and resources in my case,’ she says. Both James and Nakitta believe bipolar is still more stigmatised than other conditions in the workplace and beyond. ‘I’ve had people ask if I’m safe to be around,’ says Nakitta. ‘When I married my husband, one of his close friends said “nobody would blame you if you backed out, because she’s got a lot to take on”. ‘On one hand, I’m not ashamed of having the condition, but on the other hand I don’t like to advertise it, because of these constant misconceptions.’ Feeling disenfranchised by formal employment, Nakitta now only works odd jobs for friends and family who understand her condition. Meanwhile, James is back in full-time employment, but hasn’t disclosed his bipolar diagnosis at work. ‘I take medication every day and I have managed to really stabilise my moods. I haven’t had a high episode since then. I have had some low episodes, but not as extreme,’ he says. ‘Work wise, they don’t know. After what happened with [my last employer], I probably wouldn’t ever disclose it again. It’s just a complete distrust of HR processes.’  What needs to happen? Firstly, we need faster diagnosis for bipolar, which currently sits at a 9.5‑year delay from the onset of symptoms. Bipolar UK’s current campaign, Maybe it’s bipolar?, aims to raise awareness of some of the common symptoms so those affected seek support sooner. But public awareness and NHS waiting times are only part of the puzzle. CEO of Bipolar UK Simon Kitchen points out that education in workplaces is key. ‘Despite protections under the Equality Act, many people tell us they fear stigma or negative consequences if they talk about their condition, and that reasonable adjustments are not always offered or understood,’ he says. Reasonable adjustments should include flexible working arrangements, time off for medical appointments, and support plans following episodes of illness, the charity says.