When we talk about silence among people with depression and bipolar disorder, it is usually as something painful that has been forced on them by others. But not all silences are painful or imposed. For example, some feel good or voluntary. Using a philosophical approach, this project aims to improve our understanding of the variety of silences that people with depression and bipolar disorder experience. It will explore and define different kinds of silence described by people with lived experience of those illnesses. It will then consider what those silences say about how policymakers, healthcare workers, employers, family members, and others should treat people with depression and bipolar disorder when they are silent.
This project was generously funded by an AHRC Research, Development, and Engagement Fellowship (AH/Y001508/1), and ran from January 2024 to June 2025. The project team consisted of Dr Dan Degerman (PI), Dr Jae Ryeong Sul, and Dr Alice Malpass.
While the project has been completed, the website is still occasionally updated with work related to the project. Alice and Dan are currently involved with the EPIC project, where they are continuing to explore themes related to Beyond Voice.
