Onika L. Dainty

So, how can women with Bipolar disorder navigate these cultural expectations while prioritizing their mental well-being? In this article, we’ll break down the key challenges, explore cultural influences including those related to corporate culture in the workforce, and provide practical strategies for managing expectations without compromising health.

Cultural Expectations Around Mental Health

Cultural expectations can significantly shape how individuals perceive, express and seek help for mental health issues like Bipolar disorder. These expectations can influence everything from emotional expression to treatment-seeking behaviours. In some cultures mental health is seen as a part of an individual's overall health and therefore is treated with the same care and respect as any other medical condition. In other cultures however, mental illness is attributed to spiritual or religious factors and is looked upon as a weakness or demonic possession. Bipolar disorder is considered an illness of mood or emotional fluctuation and in some cultures emotional expression is encouraged whereas in others emotional restraint is promoted. 

Stigma, discrimination and language expressed in certain societies can prevent individuals from seeking help especially if the culture views mental illness as a weakness. Mental health touches all areas and cultures of our world but the perception of mental illnesses such as Bipolar disorder is vastly different in each and therefore treatment outcomes vary from hospitalization to ceremonious healing. 

Cultural responsiveness to mental illness in North America for instance has varied for many years. Although we have more of an understanding today of Bipolar disorder there continues to be stigma and bias that must be acknowledged and addressed for our culture to gain a deeper understanding of the complex issues around mental health and the disorders that characterize it. Because we live in a mosaic of cultures it is important that mental health care providers consider how someone’s culture, race, and ethnicity may influence their mental health and treatment outcomes.    

The Challenges of Women with Bipolar Disorder and Cultural Expectation We Face

In today’s society women are expected to wear different hats. Some are mothers, caregivers and nurturers while others are seen as career-driven, professional and tough. The new normal for women is to maintain stability while managing motherhood or singlehood, balancing work and life, managing their various other relationships and family obligations but most importantly regulating our emotions to match each role. This is what our culture expects but what if you are a woman with a serious mental illness like Bipolar disorder? Your ability to manage and maintain all of the above becomes challenging in the face of societal pressures. 

For some women the discovery of mental illness comes later in life when their roles have been defined and due to issues around gender bias there can often be diagnosis and treatment options offered to them that is geared to getting them back to who they are perceived to be, mother, caregiver, employee rather than treatment options grounded in mental well-being, recovery and emotional stability. Although gender bias seems to have no place in the mental health care system there still exists unfair disadvantages toward women who are seen as hysterical, dramatic or simply wanting to escape the responsibilities of their lives. Oftentimes these women are misdiagnosed or given treatment options that don’t address the mental health issues they face. 

It has been my experience due to cultural expectations that prior to my diagnosis of Bipolar disorder I was seen as a woman who could and would have it all: the education, the career, the family, the great long lasting friendships. My parents had high and really unrealistic expectations for me based on our immigration to Canada from Guyana. My mother once told me that where we were from was too small for her daughter with big dreams. After my diagnosis at 24–years-old some of the expectations faded into the background because of the fluctuation of my illness whenever I experienced periods of wellness it was like dreams and expectations were reborn in them. In my culture higher education is important so when I experience wellness I go back to university to earn degrees I don’t necessarily need but because it spoke to the pressure I felt from my family. 

Eventually, my Bipolar disorder would get in the way of educational or career advancement but I have learned a lesson based on cultural expectations. No matter what path I choose to walk down the only expectations I should concern myself with are the ones I have for myself because through all the pressures, biases and Bipolar backslides ultimately I have to face myself and the decisions I make about my mental health.  

At the Intersection: Stigma, Discrimination and Corporate Culture

In 1989, American civil rights scholar and activist Kimberle Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” which highlights the way race, gender, and other social categories intersect to create unique forms of discrimination and oppression. The relationship between stigma, discrimination and corporate culture may not seem to intersect but they do. For instance, I am an Afro-Carribean woman with Bipolar disorder and I have worked in various different fields therefore have had to exist in many corporate cultures. My experiences have varied in each but one thing has remained unwavering, workplace expectations and biases against mental illness exist and often show themselves in different forms. 

When hired onto a position there are three aspects of my identity that I always consider but only two are visible to my employer and co-workers from the onset of my job, that I am a woman and that I am black. In the past I have not revealed my struggle with mental illness until it’s usually apparent to those around me either due to reduced productivity or a mental health leave. I have often been in workspaces where I am the only black woman in the office so to compound those two aspects of my identity with a mental illness lies the intersectionality of my experience in the workforce. Over the years I have felt stigma and discrimination due to both my mental illness as well as my race but I can say that my Bipolar disorder rather than my race or gender does not fit the corporate molds of the places I’ve been employed.

Due to my mental illness I have lost several positions due to strange behaviours (hypomania) that didn’t fit the corporate culture of the organization. No one questioned how exceptional productivity suddenly turned to poor judgement and decision making, rather they feared for their bottom lines and showed me the exit as quickly as possible. No one tried to help their flailing teammate instead they steered clear of me as if mental illness was contagious. When I did disclose to those around me in a new position the results were the same, stigma, discrimination and ultimately termination due to lack of productivity. 

One of the ideas often promoted in corporate culture is the concept of “work-life-blanace” and but in the high-pressured work environment that I was attracted to I was unable to maintain self-care and career ambition. I was unable to manage my life as a woman with Bipolar disorder and work in the 9AM-5PM work cycle. I made the hard decision to choose a different path. But what about those women of any race that want to be a part of a high-pressured workforce? What about the women who dream of being doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers or police officers? Where do these women fit when they battle mental illness.I don’t have the answers to these questions but I will say that as we all stand at the intersection there needs to be more workplace accommodations and advocacy for mental health rights in the workforce. 

From my own experiences I’ve learned that even though I chose to focus on my mental health instead of work, the bottom line is I should never have to choose. I should never be afraid to take a mental health day or leave, I should never be afraid of what my coworkers will think upon my return or if my job will be at risk because my employer has lost faith in me. The fact is that we need more safe spaces in the workplace for people living with mental illness. Organization's corporate culture should be addressed and the intersection cleared for open communication and understanding rather than stigma and discrimination.     

Navigating Cultural Expectations While Maintaining Your Mental Health

Whether you are experiencing the cultural pressures from society, work or family, navigating these often unrealistic expectations can be a challenge when also trying to maintain your mental health. Setting healthy boundaries with the individuals in your world that believe they know best how to address your mental health concerns is key. You can do this by addressing their expectations in a compassionate and understanding way allowing people to express their opinions once and then advising them of which opinions you are willing to listen to and which do not suit your current mental health journey.

Also, it is vital to align your mental health goals with professionals who are culturally competent and can provide mental health support that speaks to your cultural experience. For instance, finding connections with counselors, psychiatrists or peer supporters from your race, sex, ethnic or cultural background may help you feel more comfortable sharing your experiences during the healing/remission/recovery process. It’s important to do your research when building your mental health support team as these commonalities can make a big difference in how you feel about your mental health and wellness journey. 

Self-advocacy can play an important role in educating and challenging misconceptions around mental illnesses like Bipolar disorder. It has been my experience that in order to stop the stigma surrounding my illness and the misconceptions that are often born from ignorance, I have had to be open and honest about my Bipolar disorder, both the positive and challenging aspects of living with a mood disorder. I have spoken in front of hundreds of people whose opinions and bias I’ve challenged simply with my ability speak on this difficult subject. I’ve answered questions I never believed anyone would ask me, difficult and sometimes embarrassing questions but I’ve answered them in the name of humanizing myself and my illness. Advocacy can come in many forms but it’s important to remember that when you speak-up for yourself you also speak for millions of others who struggle as well.     

Finally, connecting with peer support groups and mental health communities can help you create a culture within a culture.  We come from many different backgrounds, races, ethnicities etc. but when we come together as people who have the shared experience with mental health or mental illness those cultural differences and the expectations that come along with them take a back seat. When you find your mental health tribe you create a new culture, one that in my experience is based on compassion, encouragement, empathy and understanding.  

Final Thoughts

Navigating cultural expectations as a woman with Bipolar disorder is a complex journey, but it’s possible to honor both cultural identity and mental health needs. By understanding these challenges, setting boundaries, and seeking supportive communities, women can redefine expectations on their own terms. Mental health is not a weakness—it’s a part of life that deserves care, understanding, and advocacy. When you are standing at the intersection of cultural expectations and mental health challenges it's important to remember both are a part of your story and it's okay to honor each but it's essential to honor yourself and the journey to wellness you are on. 

If you found this article helpful, consider sharing it with others who may be facing similar struggles. Together, we can continue to have conversations that take us beyond the stigma of cultural and societal pressures to a place where mental health is embraced with compassion and empathy.