Mauro Ranallo

• Ranallo was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder at age 19, after the sudden death of his best friend and a subsequent mental-health crisis. He has said that he initially rejected the diagnosis and feared that it would derail his career. [1]
• In 2003, another severe episode led Ranallo to return to hospital treatment. He later became increasingly open about living with bipolar disorder. Since then, he has spoken publicly about bipolar disorder in interviews, talks and the 2018 documentary Bipolar Rock ‘N’ Roller. [3]

• Ranallo has described repeated episodes of mania and depression throughout his adult life, with multiple psychiatric hospitalizations. In his twenties, he experienced cycles of intense energy and productivity followed by severe depression, and he has said that the decade included six hospital stays. [2]
• He has also spoken openly about suicidal thinking during depressive episodes. After a severe breakdown in 2003, Ranallo said he felt that his career was over and wanted to end both his own pain and the burden he believed he was placing on his family. He returned to hospital during that crisis. [8]
• Even during periods of professional success, Ranallo has described ongoing anxiety, self-doubt and depressive crashes after the intense energy of broadcasting. He has also said that travel and exhaustion have contributed to later episodes that forced him to step away from work. [2]

• Ranallo has described managing bipolar disorder through a combination of medication, therapy and daily routines. After seeking hospital treatment in 2003, he developed a more structured approach that included meditation, exercise, healthier eating, hydration and other habits aimed at helping him stay stable. [9]
• Ranallo has also spoken openly about using cannabis as part of his own symptom management and has described it as particularly important to him. [4]

• Ranallo has described learning to manage bipolar disorder rather than expecting it to disappear. He has described treatment, daily routines and support from people close to him as important parts of continuing to manage the condition. [9]
• He has continued working at a high level while living with the condition, but has also been clear that professional success does not mean he is free of symptoms. Ranallo has described stability as something he has to keep working at and has said that he still experiences difficult periods. [3]

• Ranallo has become a prominent advocate for mental-health awareness, using his own experience with bipolar disorder to challenge stigma and encourage people to seek help. He has spoken openly about hospitalization, suicidal thinking and the difficulty of maintaining stability while working in a high-pressure public career. [3]
• His advocacy was the focus of the 2018 documentary Bipolar Rock ‘N’ Roller, which followed his career and mental-health history. Ranallo has said he wants people with bipolar disorder to understand that the condition can be serious and disabling without defining the entirety of a person’s life. [1]

“Bipolar disorder is a blessing as much as it’s a curse.”

— Mauro Ranallo [3]