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3-2-1 Bipolar Disorder
Priyanka Vaidya
May 19, 2025
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). During manic episodes, individuals may feel euphoric, energetic, or unusually irritable, while feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and low energy characterize depressive episodes. These mood changes can significantly affect daily functioning, relationships, and quality of life.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are 3 kinds of bipolar disorders: Bipolar I - the most intense form of Bipolar, which has the most extreme highs and lows. Manic episodes (hypomania) usually last at least seven days and often require hospital care. Depressive episodes can last over two weeks. Bipolar II - a more moderate form of Bipolar, with briefer periods of elation (hypomania), alongside long periods of depression. Cyclothymic Disorder - the mildest form of Bipolar, which has alternating bouts of hypomania and depression for at least two years.
Globally, bipolar disorder affects an estimated 40 to 46 million people, which is about 0.5% to 2.4% of the world’s population, depending on the criteria and region used for measurement. The condition impacts both men and women equally and is observed across all age groups, although it is most commonly diagnosed among working-age adults. The global prevalence has risen over recent decades, partly due to increased awareness, better diagnostic practices, and population growth.
3 startups making an impact in this space:
Company | |||
Location | US | US | US |
Modality | Remote Monitoring | Care access | Care access |
Descriptor | Juli supports people with chronic health conditions like asthma, migraine, depression, bipolar disorder, hypertension, or chronic pain through several evidence-based approaches. | Reimagining care and community for people with serious mental illness with psychosocial rehab at scale. | Amae Health is setting the gold standard in care for severe mental illness. We build scalable models to deliver life-long, wraparound, integrated care in community-centered outpatient clinics. |
Core Problem | A person’s health data record is distributed across various sources and silo’d in phones, apps and the doctor. | Every year, $280B is spent on healthcare for serious mental illness, yet individuals continue to experience significant challenges like reduced life expectancy and higher rates of preventable disease. | For individuals aged 18+ with severe mental illness, virtual care alone doesn’t cut it. Individualized in-person care and long-term support are crucial. |
Solution | Juli allows you to get an overview of all kinds of data that influence how you feel and your state of health. For instance, Juli shows your activity, your sleep, your heart rate, weather information, air quality, and more on a personalized dashboard. | Vanna Health believes that community, alongside medical care, is key to making lasting improvements. There is overwhelming evidence that psychosocial rehabilitation improves outcomes through a focus on community inclusion and the social dimension of living with SMI. | Amae Health was founded on the belief that real, lasting change demands a multi-faceted approach where patients receive the highest standard of care, delivered by compassionate and competent clinicians. |
Product Suite | Patient facing Juli app Health dashboard Medication reminders Chats Daily Dares (gamified interventions) | Local support groups (pods) Digital engagement Community coaches | Comprehensive, psychiatry-led treatment Educational resources Group support for patients and families. |
Regulatory Status | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Funding Stage | Seed | Series A | Series A |
Team | The management team comprises serial entrepreneurs. | The co-founder’s father lived with a serious mental illness and died by suicide. | Both co-founders have lived experience as carers for people with Serious Mental Illness (SMI). |
Traction | Strong traction with their free D2C app. | Growing traction with local communities. | Strong traction with physical clinics and research tie-ups. |
2 actionable insights to inspire your strategy.
Telepsychiatry Telepsychiatry is a form of telehealth that uses secure video conferencing to connect patients with licensed mental health professionals, allowing individuals to receive psychiatric care from virtually anywhere-including their own homes, rural areas, or facilities with limited access to specialists. This approach improves access to mental health services, reduces wait times, and offers greater flexibility in scheduling appointments, making it easier for people to get timely care. Telepsychiatry is effective for a wide range of conditions, including bipolar disorder, and has been shown to deliver outcomes and patient satisfaction comparable to in-person care. By removing barriers related to travel and stigma, telepsychiatry helps more people receive the psychiatric support they need in a comfortable and private setting. | Digital Health Mobile apps and wearables are widely adopted for real-time mood tracking, symptom monitoring, and behavioral analysis. These tools provide objective data on sleep patterns, activity levels, and social interactions, improving the accuracy of mood episode prediction and enabling timely clinical responses. Digital therapeutics deliver evidence-based interventions via mobile apps, support patients between therapy sessions, and provide clinicians with real-time monitoring and early warnings of potential crises. Such tools can be used alongside medication and traditional therapy to enhance patient outcomes and reduce crisis events. |
1 key resource to deepen your understanding.
An episode from one of my favorites, The Huberman Lab, discusses the science and treatment for Bipolar disorders.
And that’s all for today. See you next Monday!
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