Introduction A global movement focused on early intervention in bipolar disorder is long overdue. Given a dearth of work towards establishing coordinated efforts in this field, we aimed to explore what can be learned from successful global mental health movements. Methods We interviewed nine experts involved in the development of global mental health movements. Reflexive thematic analysis was used. Results Seven themes were generated: (1) “What do You Want to Be and for Whom?”, (2) There are Pros and Cons with Consensus in Ideas and Approaches, (3) The Catalytic Role of Early Action, (4) People are the Heart of a Movement, (5) Make it Matter, (6) Size and Structure Can Impact Effectiveness, and (7) Challenges of Scaling Up and Maintaining a Movement. Conclusions These learnings provide a framework for building a Global Alliance for early intervention in bipolar disorder, centring early action, nurturing passionate leadership, and inclusive collaboration.