THE BIPOLAR YOUTH ACTION PROJECT

(BYAP)

Collaborators

Andrea Paquette, Co-Lead Researcher

Dr. Erin Michalak, Co-Lead Researcher

Dr. Wei-Yi Song, Co-Investigator

Dr. Joanna Cheek, Co-Investigator

Introducing the Bipolar Youth Action Project!

BYAP is:• A two year action research project funded by the Vancouver

Foundation• About building knowledge about how youth can live well with bipolar

disorder • About building capacity for youth to engage in participatory mental

health research

BYAP will:• Be co-led by two Youth Action Groups (YAGs) in South and Central

Vancouver Island• Host two Forums on self-management created for youth, by youth, ages

16-25• Disseminate knowledge on youth BD self-management

Young people benefit by gaining skills, knowledge, self-esteem and connectedness.

Adults benefit by enhancing their own competencies, learning to better understand and value youth and increasing their commitment to organizations.

Organizations benefit by improving their programs, gaining community recognition and attracting funders.

Communities benefit by improving quality of life, coordinating youth services and authentically embracing diversity by representing young people.

Youth engagement is a win-win proposition

Learnings from SPARK Workshop – Mental Health Commission of Canada

In terms of research, what are the most important findings from this project?

• Youth strategies to stay well while living with bipolar disorder• Need to consider what makes adult wellness strategies

different from a youth’s perspective• How best to identify and adopt youth engagement strategies• Identifying best practices for application of research

• Refer to one session pilot project

The most important KE points:• Needing a fall back plan for working with youth with high

relapse rates• Security/privacy issue considerations• Capitalising on the power of partnerships, we will partner with

mindyourmind in order to capitalise on their expertise in youth engagement.

BYAP Pilot Focus Group FindingsFive Youth, Andrea Paquette and Erin Michalak in Victoria, BC

• Exercise • Sobriety• Sleep and routine• Creating balance• Work and volunteer schedule• Positive interactions with healthcare providers• Creative outlets (i.e., creating art or playing music

The youth shared diverse strategies that contributed to their wellness:

Youth may cope differently from adults

• Most of the youth in the pilot focus group felt that, while some of their wellness strategies might be useful for adults living with bipolar disorder, other strategies are specific to youth:

• Parents can play a negative or positive role. The role of a parent can change drastically as one matures and for younger generations the impact is often significant

• Young people and adults can have different lifestyles. Youth might be able to ‘live in the moment’, whereas more planning takes place as one transitions from youth to adulthood.