What's with all these bi-polar people?

[ryanman]

yes and no. It's often easier to hide certain mental illness depending on your profession, if you're an actor it's just you being 'artistic'. Imagine being bi-polar and a butcher with a wife, kids, and a morgage. seems a bit less fancy.

I'm kind of on the fence on this. I understand that some have serious problems, but I also wince when I hear of yet another celebrity quite publically coming out as bi-polar. It's like the latest cool thing for the famous to have. I can't control my life, well here is my medical justification.

I don't think its that widespread Miles. But obviously one celebrity saying publically that they suffer from it is likely to encourage others in their position to do the same. Most of the information about a celebrity is in the public domain, their spouse, their children, their favourite holiday destinations, the lastest diet/exercise regime they are on etc etc. Being Bi-Polar is another aspect of them and shouldn't be hidden (not if everything else about them is un-hidden).
(I actually would rather that we didn't know every aspect of every celebrities life, but something like BI-Polar is more significant than, say, what they eat for breakfast).

Although it may seem to you that there are lots of celebrities 'coming out' with a mental illness recentley don't forget that there are a LOT of celebrities.
We could play a game, you name a celebrity with a supposed metal illness, and I will name one without.
You will be finished in 10 minutes. I will still be naming them this time next week.
Statistically speaking the numbers probably reflect what would be scientifically expected (or close to).