Men’s Corner
The strongest thing a man can do is seek help. The times of “get over it you’re a man” are long over. IBPF is here to support you, educate you, and provide you with resources. You can also share your lived experience, and connect with your peers. We care about you.
Men & Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. Although bipolar disorder is diagnosed in both men and women equally, bipolar symptoms may manifest differently in men.
Stories of Men with Lived Experience
Lawrence Van Treeck
Something I Am Proud Of: I am proud of myself for learning to better manage my anxiety. It has been a long road, with lots of hard work, and I have learned a lot about myself and my anxiety. For example, it largely shows up in work environments, in large group...
Gregory Gebhart
Something I Am Proud Of: I am especially proud of the fact that I was able to write and self-publish “The Mental Patient: A Journey of Faith” on Amazon. This fictional memoir is based on my 65 years of struggling with bipolar with psychosis. It came in three stages...
Jesse Zook Mann
Something I Am Proud Of: I am proud that I have been able to transform my most painful years into work that helps others get better. I am proud to bring patients who dedicate their lives to their healing journey together. Advice For Newly Diagnosed: I almost gave up...
David Crumley
Something I Am Proud Of: I am proud of being able to feel self-love and self-compassion. The moment someone told me I was worthy of love, and I actually felt it, was the turning point in my recovery. We’re always so hard on ourselves. With self compassion, I’ve been...
Apply to our Faces of Hope and Recovery program to share your story!
Support Resources
Support resources containing educational information, tips for men with bipolar, bipolar support groups, and more! If you need help finding a specific resource, email info@ibpf.org for assistance.
Check Out General Gregg's Corner
Hear from Major General Gregg F. Martin, US Army Retired, about his battle with bipolar disorder and his mission to stop the stigma and save lives.
From the Blog
Asking For Help as a Man
Author: Lee Formella
If you were raised anything like me, you were told to be strong, be a man, be tough, do everything yourself, provide for those around you and definitely, no matter the extremity of the circumstances, do not be a burden to those around you. I am not sure…
Bipolar – A Life Less Ordinary
Bipolar disorder is a complex yet manageable condition. It is a condition that affects moods, emotions, and energies and can be challenging in many ways. A person with bipolar can lead a normal and healthy life but it takes work and knowledge to build up the skills needed to live and prosper with the condition.
Afghanistan war vets are still enraged and hurting – reach out and listen
As the last American soldier stepped aboard a C-17 cargo plane in Kabul in September 2021 and became the last soldier to leave Afghanistan, my inbox was filling up with messages of despair from...
