Television drama hasn’t had a good reputation for accurate or fair representation of mental illness in Australia. All too often events are sensationalised, with viewers complaining of inaccuracy and stigma. What would happen, then, if one of the characters in the popular ‘Neighbours’ program started to develop symptoms?

We’re about to find out.

Channel Ten’s iconic soapie is tackling the effects of bipolar disorder on one of Ramsay St’s residents, with a gripping storyline and help from the SANE Media Centre which provided information and advice.

In an emerging storyline, ‘Sam’ (played by Simone Buchanan) is revealed to have bipolar disorder.

However, this time the scriptwriters, actors and production team have been at pains to be as accurate and sensitive as possible. Actor, Simone, has a brother herself with bipolar disorder (SANE Speaker, Miles Buchanan), and thinks it’s ‘fantastic’ that Neighbours is including mental illness in a way which promotes understanding as well as telling a story.

‘I think they’ve done a great job,’ says Simone. ‘the writers really did their research beforehand; they spent time with people who have bipolar disorder, and worked closely with SANE Australia. They haven’t glossed over it.’

For the latest on the story, visit the ‘Neighbours’ website.