This piece contains discussions of mental health
Mental illness, like physical illness, is often a goddamn trial.
It can require medication. It can require therapy.
And the most important thing, especially when you know that you may not always have the most flawless abilities of self-assessment, is to have good people around you who have your interests at heart that can notice when maybe you’re starting to drift.
And this brings us to Kanye West: a man who has described his bipolar diagnosis as confirming his superpower. And let’s be clear: we are pro-neurodiversity in these here parts, and celebrate the fact that brains are are gloriously individual
But. But but but but but but.
When rumours start to come through that West is looking to turn his Sunday Services – currently a private religious-themed musical gathering, according to his wife Kim Kardashian – into an actual religion, then we need to ask “is there anyone around checking in with a possibly delusional cat?”
And it should be made clear that until this point the Sunday Sessions have seemed more less church-like and more like a gospel-themed creative endeavour, albeit with its own merch line.
But when a guy who dubbed himself Yeesus starts holding “services”… you can see why even weird claims like “he’s starting a church and making a reality show about it!” doesn’t seem as unlikely as you’d hope.
See, bipolar is no small deal. It’s something which requires an amount of monitoring in order to be managed. And that’s where having people around who can go “hey, buddy, you seem a bit down/hyper, let’s check in for a sec” is really necessary.
And West has been very articulate about his condition and open about his experience of the highs (where he gets erratic and says things like that slavery was a choice) and the lows (which have seen him be restrained and forcibly hospitalised), as well as how paranoid-slash-grandiose he has felt. As he wrote on the cover of Ye: “I Hate Being Bipolar. It’s Awesome”.
We know what happens to celebrities when they’re surrounded by people who feed their delusions. Historically, it doesn’t end well.
And look, if you’re feeling a little off-centre, maybe it’s a good idea to check in with someone who cares about you.
If you or someone close to you would like more information about bipolar disorder diagnosis or treatment, contact Bipolar Australia