People with bipolar disorder (BD) can experience good health and quality of life (QoL). However, this is not the reality for many Canadians living with the condition. There are a host of potential reasons for this. Many Canadians are unable to access evidence-based treatments, both in terms of medications and psychosocial treatments and supports. Getting access to the right care at the right time can be even harder for diverse, historically marginalized, or equity-deserving populations. 

“We don’t have all of the people we need at the table to figure out what new research needs to be done, how research knowledge can be better applied, and how healthcare systems can be improved.”

Incredibly exciting and promising BD research is being performed both in Canada and abroad, but we also face significant challenges in this field. While we know that biomedical factors and treatments are critical in BD, we often underemphasize the important role psychosocial supports and treatments play in helping people with BD experience full QoL. We also don’t have all of the people we need at the table to figure out what new research needs to be done, how research knowledge can be better applied, and how healthcare systems can be improved. People with lived experience of BD, their family members, loved ones, and healthcare providers hold essential but underheard and undervalued knowledge.  

This status quo needs to change. Our ‘Roadmap’ project – a collaboration between CREST.BD and the Daymark Foundation – will create a new research and care agenda to improve QoL for Canadians living with BD.  

“This project will identify the unmet psychosocial needs hindering diverse people living with BD from experiencing health, QoL, and optimal care in Canada”

Over the coming 12 months we will: 

• Identify the unmet psychosocial needs hindering diverse people with BD from experiencing health, QoL, and optimal care in the Canadian context

• Identify potential barriers and facilitators to addressing these unmet needs

• Create a powerful shared agenda for BD research and care system advancement

Join Us! 

We want to engage with Canadians who have stakes in this research and mission. This encompasses people living with BD, their family members and loved ones, healthcare providers, decision-makers, and community organizations. If you’re interested in participating, please send an email to erin.michalak@ubc.ca 

This blog is the first in a series dedicated to our newest project, “Establishing a Canadian Roadmap for Bipolar Disorder Psychosocial Research and Care”, funded by the Daymark Foundation.