Matt Berriman

• Berriman publicly disclosed that he had bipolar disorder in February 2018, when he announced that he was stepping aside as CEO of Unlockd to focus on his health. He wrote that he had initially attributed his symptoms to stress, lack of sleep and the pressures of running a startup before learning that he was experiencing bipolar disorder. [1]
• He has continued to identify publicly as having bipolar disorder in subsequent writing and mental-health advocacy. [2]

• Berriman has described a prolonged period in which his mental health deteriorated while he was running Unlockd. By 2018, his health difficulties had become serious enough that he stepped aside as CEO and reduced his responsibilities. [1]
• He later described periods of profound hopelessness and said that at his lowest point he survived a suicide attempt. He recalled feeling that repeated attempts at treatment had not improved his condition and questioning whether he wanted to continue living that way. [3]

• Berriman has described undergoing extensive treatment during his most severe period of illness. He said he tried around 16 different medications as well as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). [3]
• He has also credited medication, psychological support, sleep, diet and exercise with aiding his recovery. [3]

• Berriman has described gradually returning to a sustained period of better health after several difficult years. By 2021, he said he had reached a “strong platform of sustained wellbeing” and was beginning to re-enter professional life. [2]
• He has emphasized that this progress has not been linear. In 2023, Berriman said he still experienced low periods but had become better at recognizing when his mood was declining and managing those periods. [3]

• Berriman served as chair of Mental Health Australia from 2021 to 2024, using the role to advocate for greater awareness of mental health and changes to the system through which people access treatment. [4][3]
• He has also argued that business leaders should model healthy workplace practices. As an investor, he said he checks in with founders about their wellbeing and challenges them when he sees signs that they are working unsustainable hours. [3]

“You can be your best, brilliant and un-well at the same time(s).”

— Matt Berriman [2]