Tiktokers mourn the death of Maribel who died after a long battle with Bipolar disorder

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:00]continue to pour in online following the death of Kenyan TikToker Immaculate Irungu, popularly known as Maribel, who reportedly died by suicide after long battle with bipolar disorder. Fellow TikTok creators, fans, and mental health advocates have taken to social media to mourn her and celebrate her courage in speaking openly about mental health struggles. Modoni Brenda tells us more.

[00:00:23]Her name was Immaculate Irungu.

[00:00:26]But, to the thousands who followed her online, she was simply Maribel.

[00:00:31]And Maribel was so much more than a TikToker. She was a creative force, sharp, funny, and refreshingly real.

[00:00:40]Maribel was also a proud fashionista, bold in her style choices, and unapologetically herself. But, perhaps Maribel's most courageous act was also her most personal one, when she opened up about her battle with bipolar disorder. She did so without any filters. To tell Maribel's story without speaking about bipolar disorder would be to tell it incompletely. Maribel was passionate about creating awareness around the condition and about stripping away the stigma. In her honor, we sat down with Dr. Ada, a psychologist, to better understand bipolar disorder.

[00:01:17]Bipolar is a mental disorder. It definitely is one of the mental disorders among the 315 mental disorders that are known today.

[00:01:26]And it's characterized by mood swings, extreme mood swings. The psychologist explains that there are two types of bipolar. Bipolar 1 is characterized by at least an episode of mania that lasts for at least 1 week.

[00:01:42]But, with bipolar 2, it doesn't have a manic episode. It has what we call hypomania.

[00:01:49]Dr. Ada further explains that bipolar is a genetic condition that can be triggered by childhood trauma, financial problems, and chronic stress. a family history, there was someone with that kind of a gene. So, you kind of inherit the gene, but that does not mean that you will wake up and you have bipolar in future.

[00:02:10]It only means that it will wait for other environments or things that can help it manifest. And one of the things that can help it that can help this gene to manifest is alcohol and substances. He further describes bipolar disorder as a condition marked by intense grandiosity that clouds judgment and distorts decision-making. Those experiencing a manic episode can go weeks without sleep, feeling no fatigue, and they are very comfortable taking extreme risks.

[00:02:42]They experience a lot of hopelessness, a lot of guilt, sometimes feeling worthless, sometimes feeling lost, and even lack of pleasure in the previously enjoyed moments.

[00:02:55]And it can also be characterized by even uh suicidal ideation. The psychologist further explains that bipolar is a chronic condition that can be managed.

[00:03:06]To prevent the symptoms, then you continue taking the medication. And these medications are mood stabilizer stabilizers and sometimes antipsychotics. So, mood stabilizers just to ensure that you don't have the erratic mood swings. And also the antipsychotics time to time. The psychologist is clear on this. With the right support systems in place, people living with bipolar disorder can lead meaningful and even extraordinary lives.

[00:03:33]You wake up, it's raining oil something like that. And then at 10:00 it's sunny.

[00:03:40]So, sometimes we normalize this conversation that the weather is bipolar.

[00:03:44]So, if we can have the supportive words and the minimize the words that can put or compromise the other person who is seated next to you. Like oh, you're stigmatizing these things. So I'm like the weather. You get? So if we can be understanding and have proper words that we can approach these people with, then that becomes very very important.

[00:04:07]>> It is a condition that demands to be understood and that is precisely what Maribel spent her platform fighting for, giving language to thousands of Kenyans living with the same silent chaos. This fight against mental illness took center stage yesterday, Wednesday, at the public participation of the budget estimates in Nairobi, where the young people requested the budget committee to set aside a budget on mental health as statistics indicate that one in every four Kenyans is struggling mentally. As the conversation on mental health gains momentum, experts are advising anyone experiencing emotional distress to speak to a trusted friend or seek professional support, while still reminding all of us as a society that nobody should suffer in silence. Mwanachi Brenda for TV 47.