Bonkersfest

Simon Barnett, diagnosed manic depressive in 1981, writes on direct action, Madpride and this year's

I have been a mental health service user since 1981, when I was diagnosed, aged 21, with manic depression – now known as Bipolar Affective Disorder. Naively I thought a diagnosis would lead to a cure, that’s how medicine works right?

Unfortunately that’s not the case for about 40 per cent of people with this condition. The drugs don’t work and we continue to experience extreme mood swings. Until recently I continued to be hospitalised every 15 months to 2 years – but more of that later.