Dr. Andrea Vassilev, who has lived with bipolar disorder for over 25 years, is a passionate, dedicated, and effective mental health leader. Andrea has committed her life to mental health outreach, awareness, and advocacy. Her primary passion is the fight to eradicate stigma regarding mental illness and heal self-stigma in those living with these conditions. 

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An award-winning advocate, Andrea is a frequent invited global speaker on the topic of bipolar for organizations such as Bipolar UK, the International Bipolar Foundation,  conferences, and universities. Her work and commentary have appeared in outlets including Slate, bpHope Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times.

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She is an active member of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD), serving on the Board of Directors (2025–2028) and on the Task Force for Psychological Interventions in Bipolar Disorder. She co-chairs the ISBD Experts by Experience planning committee, developing programming that integrates clinical expertise with first-person perspectives. 

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Andrea is the creator of Overcoming Self-Stigma in Bipolar Disorder (OSSiBD), a novel therapeutic program currently in use internationally with multiple translations underway. Dr. Vassilev will publish "Beyond the Bipolar Label: A Workbook to Overcome Self-Stigma, Break Free from Shame, and Live Authentically," an adaption of the popular program for individual use, with New Harbinger Publications in June 2026. The program is will also appear in an upcoming PBS documentary on bipolar disorder.

 

Andrea has never forgotten her roots as a peer group leader for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). She began in her local chapter, where she served as a facilitator for years and later served as CEO of the 501(c)(3). Later, Andrea went on to serve both on the Advisory Board of DBSA California as well as the Education Chair. Andrea co-founded and co-leads the Mood Pros Society, a DBSA support group specifically and exclusively for mental health clinicians with mood disorders. 

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Andrea's other academic and clinical accomplishments are varied but all stem from her dedication to her community. These include having presented at national and international academic conferences and having been honored with a number of scholarships that recognize her own life with a mental health condition, including the Bridge the Gap scholarship from the Quell Foundation. 

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One of Andrea's favorite hobbies is creating relatable content for others living with bipolar and sharing it on her Instagram @best.life.bipolar.

 

Ultimately, Andrea hopes that by telling her own story of life with bipolar disorder will provide education, hope, and comfort to others. In all things, Andrea remains a dedicated warrior in the fight against mental health stigma!​​​