why speech is finally freed

“Yes, I am mentally ill: it is crude, it is violent to say and certainly to hear, but I no longer want to hide it or hide myself.” On March 26, 2025, Nicolas Demorand, flagship journalist of The morning of France Inter, admits on the airwaves to being suffering from bipolar disorder, on the occasion of the publication of his testimony in the book Night interior.

The words are strong, the shock wave immense: the media seize the theme, thousands of bipolar people and their loved ones write to the journalist to thank him and confide, moved, their difficulty in talking about the illness. A liberated word, encouraged by the State, which promoted mental health as the great national cause of the year.

The month of October marked a high point, with conferences, broadcasts and the first Cinéma à la Folie festival, which toured eight cities. A first communication from the public authorities – proof that, here too, the subject was underestimated, while one in five people are affected each year by psychological disorders (1).

A disease like any other

Why such a taboo? Mental illness is scary. “We immediately imagine people who are uncontrollable, violent,” says Chantal Henry, psychiatrist at Sainte-Anne hospital in Paris. The newspapers are full of news stories committed by people suffering from mental disorders, and the image of the psychiatric hospital is not good. According to the Odoxa survey for the French Mutualité (September 2024), 70% of French people endorse at least one stereotype: these people are dangerous, addictions are due to a lack of willpower, mental health is a fashion, a way of attracting attention…

Clichés that Léa Vigier, 32, diagnosed with bipolar disorder for two years, fights. The young woman traveled the roads of France last summer by hitchhiking, sleeping with strangers, with a sign: “I’m bipolar, can you invite me?” An adventurer, she decided, following Nicolas Demorand’s announcement, to meet the population, to destigmatize the disease. “The first question people asked me was, ‘Aren’t you going to freak out in my car/my truck/my house?’

I told them: “No, no risk. It’s an illness like any other, which can be treated. I have a job, friends, everything is fine!” » This view of patients and hospitals makes it very difficult to admit to oneself that one is ill: “I was afraid of psychiatry, details a listener in the show The phone rings on France Inter on September 24. Fear of psychiatrists, fear of ending up in an asylum.” And then, “mental illness remains a shameful illness,” underlines Nicolas Demorand.

Avoid medical wandering

This explains too late treatment, slowed down by the difficulty of diagnosis specific to the alternation of phases which characterizes bipolarity. “When the person is in a manic phase, they feel perfectly good, brilliant, efficient,” notes Chantal Henry. She doesn’t see a doctor.” Sophie de Coatpont, 45, who suffered long phases of exaltation at the ages of 24 and 30, says: “At that moment, euphoric, I was experiencing a mystical delirium. A fervent believer, I felt called to great things, I made reckless donations… I had the answer to everything and my parents were very worried. But I wasn’t ready to hear about a psychological problem. For me, it was spiritual.”

Same story with Léa Vigier who, at full strength, starts businesses, no longer sleeps, spends crazy money… No question of calling herself sick! “Bipolar people most often consult their doctor when they are depressed,” notes Chantal Henry. The general practitioner then prescribed anti-depressants, which were not suitable.” Medical wandering is seven years on average. Time wasted for Nicolas Demorand or Léa Vigier. Sophie was pushed by her general practitioner towards a specialist. “I resisted,” she concedes. Then I started to fall into depression, and I walked through the door of the psychiatrist…” A decisive gesture, because the earlier the diagnosis is made, the better the chances of finding treatment and support. Even if that means taking medication, being hospitalized, sometimes for long periods of time, measured in months or years. Hence the importance of being well surrounded. “Bipolarity can damage relationships with loved ones, who feel lost, helpless, especially when the sick are in denial and the family has to have them hospitalized,” explains Florence Gros, director of the OCH Foundation..

However, those around you have an essential role to play. “We must accept our child’s illness,” says Annick de Coatpont, Sophie’s mother, “as he must also accept it. And maintain a caring presence. I always thought my daughter would get through it, and I kept telling her that,” she confides. Friendships are precious too. “I never let go of Sophie, who brings me a lot, with her charisma, her energy,” emphasizes Anne, her childhood friend. Even if there were very hard moments. She was always there for me!” Sophie was also able to count on a hospital chaplain who allowed her to find a peaceful relationship with God. Daily attendance at a place for the recovery of people affected by psychological disorders, the Clubhouse, in Paris, was of great help to him. “Encouraged by patients who are doing well, I told the story of my journey, relearned the things of everyday life, reintegrated into professional life with internships… Then I followed university training to become a peer helper2, and I just got married.”

Testimony, valuable support

Places of recovery and conviviality are multiplying in Paris and the region, even if there are still “deserts”. “This allows us to escape from isolation,” explains Benjamin, 34, a peer helper at La maison perchée, in Paris. Here, having a psychological disorder is the norm. We have equal relationships, share our journeys in a non-judgmental way, participate in activities such as writing workshops,” specifies the young man. The more the patient learns about the disease, the more they are able to chart their path.

Information is therefore essential. “People are not selfish, they don’t have the knowledge, that’s all,” says Léa Vigier, the hitchhiker, also a business speaker and financial director of a start-up. Once I explain it to them, there is no problem! » Returning to Nicolas Demorand’s announcement, Florence Gros, indicates: “The fact that a public, recognized person, well integrated into the world of work, has spoken about her bipolarity is valuable support for people affected by the disease. » Such words also help the work of doctors, in town and in hospitals. It is necessary for the family and loved ones to also have this information: we speak of “psychoeducation”. Thus a spouse or parent will better understand their sick child or companion – and will be able to act accordingly.

1) Source: Red Cross, 2023.

2) Mutual aid between people sharing a similar experience.