27 September 2023

• Mental illness can be managed by seeking professional help.

• Among celebs with bipolar is Saumu Mbuvi and Dennis Ombachi.

Mental illness comes in many ways. The sad reality is that it affects how a person views life and how they interact with others.

In the past week, former Citizen TV host Kimani Mbugua has been trending after coming out to ask for help. Kimani has been battling bipolar disorder.

This is a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration.

We take a look at prominent celebrities you didn't know had bipolar.

Dennis Ombachi

The celebrated rugby player cum chef has been among Kenyans who have openly talked about battling bipolar disorder.

He was diagnosed as bipolar in 2018, he had however had the symptoms for years but never sought any help.

Ombachi is loved by many for his Tiktok videos where he showcases his cooking skills.

Saumu Mbuvi

Saumu who is the first-born daughter of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko battles bipolar.

In 2021 Saumu opened up on her battle with mental illness, at the time she had battled bipolar for eight years.

“I did not know I was bipolar until I had a very bad breakdown and that I had to be taken to hospital and that is when I was diagnosed with bipolar eight years ago. For the longest time, I did not know I had bipolar but it took this main trigger (breakup),” explained Mbuvi.

Selena Gomez

The award-winning singer/ actress revealed in April 2020 that she has bipolar disorder.

Gomez was also diagnosed with lupus in 2014. The laid-back singer in an interview with Elle in 2020, said the Bipolar diagnosis felt like a load had been lifted off her shoulders.

“Recently I went to one of the best mental health hospitals in America, McLean Hospital [affiliated with Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts], and I discussed that after years of going through a lot of different things, I realized I was bipolar.

So, when I know more information it helps me. It doesn't scare me when I know it.

I felt a huge weight lifted off me when I found out. "

Kanye West

Ye, known as Kanye West before he legally changed his name, also has bipolar disorder.

In a 2019 interview with David Letterman, the Grammy-winning rapper spoke frankly about what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder.

He described his experience with bipolar disorder as “having a sprained brain” similar to having a sprained ankle.

“I feel a heightened connection with the universe when I’m ramping up. It is a health issue,” Ye said.

If someone has a sprained ankle, you’re not going to push on him more. With us, once our brain gets to a point of spraining, people do everything to make it worse,” Ye told Letterman.