Kim Kardashian West opens up on Kanye West's bipolar disorder, asks for 'compassion, empathy'

Kim Kardashian West finally broke her silence for the first time after her husband Kanye West posted and deleted a string of erratic tweets regarding his family life after the launch of his presidential campaign in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Kim finally opened up about Kanye's bipolar disorder and took to her Instagram stories to write, "Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words sometimes do not align with his intentions." 

The reality TV star said that in breaking her silence she wished to address the "stigma and misconceptions" surrounding mental health. Kim wrote, "Those that understand mental illness or even compulsive behaviour know that the family is powerless unless the member is a minor. People who are unaware or far removed from this experience can be judgmental and not understand that the individual themselves have to engage in the process of getting help no matter how hard family and friends try."

She further added, "I understand Kanye is subject to criticism because he is a public figure, and his actions at times can cause strong opinions and emotions. He is a brilliant but complicated person who on top of the pressures of being an artist and a black man, who experienced the painful loss of his mother, and has to deal with the pressure and isolation that is heightened by his bipolar disorder." 

Kanye has been grabbing headlines ever since he announced his presidential campaign in early July. In her statement, Kim also asked the media and the public to give their family "compassion and empathy". She said, "We as a society talk about giving grace to the issue of mental health as a whole, however, we should also give it to the individuals who are living with it in times when they need it the most." 

West has said he will release a new album, Donda: With Child, named after his late mother, on Friday.