Understanding Bipolar Disorder with Bipolar UK

How is bipolar different from other mental health conditions?

Bipolar UK have gathered a number of statistics that help demonstrate the impact of Bipolar. 1 in 50 people are living in the UK with bipolar. Research suggests on average a person knows nearly six hundred people, which means each person in the UK potentially knows twelve people living with bipolar.

One of the biggest challenges with bipolar is diagnosis, on average, it takes 9.5 years for someone to get a bipolar diagnosis. With this all-in mind, there is a strong potential that many of us know someone with bipolar.

Bipolar doesn’t just impact the individual living with the condition. Recent research conducted by Bipolar UK found that those with bipolar report that it has a significant negative impact on an average of 5 close friends and family members. Mental health impacts many people in different ways, and due to the nature of bipolar it has a tangible impact on those closest.

There is also a real lack in the general understanding of bipolar disorder;

• • what it is
  • how it affects sufferers and those close to them
  • and crucially, how to help

Why have we partnered with Bipolar UK?

During 2022 Bipolar UK was put forward by employees at The Access Group to be named as one of the organisation’s Charity of the Year. This meant that The Access Group ran several fundraising events and awareness activities to support Bipolar UK. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Squad delivered a ‘Brunch and Learn’ event to showcase the important work we were doing around designing mental health learning content.

A colleague asked if we were looking into creating an eLearning module on bipolar, something we didn’t have. After some quick reflection we decided that we needed to cover the topic.

When creating all of our eLearning modules we use subject matter experts to ensure our content is credible and authentic. We got in touch with Sarah Owen, Policy and Communications Manager at Bipolar UK and Lorna Morgan-Glanfield, Strategic Partnership Manager at Bipolar UK, who were more than happy to help. At this point the relationship changed, Sarah and Lorna asked if we would be willing to support them in creating a learning piece for Bipolar UK to use, rather than solely creating something for our clients. Having Bipolar UK as our Charity of the Year made this decision very easy.

We then began to examine the requirements of both The Access Group and Bipolar UK for this exciting eLearning piece.

What are we trying to achieve?

Bipolar UK had a vision of the learning module they wanted:

• • A module to be accessible to as many people as possible by housing it on their website
  • A module that can accredit the learner
  • Something which included real people with real stories about bipolar
  • To talk about how bipolar doesn’t just impact the person with the condition but family and friends as well.

At The Access Group when designing eLearning content, we always want to make sure our content is:

• • Authentic
  • Credible
  • Emotional

So, it seemed that both parties were on the same page regarding what we wanted to get out of the module. As the learning designer for the project, I needed to research more about bipolar as I had a basic level of understanding. Sarah Owen was on hand to help and sent me a copy of Bipolar Disorder – The Ultimate Guide, co-written by Sarah and her cousin Amanda Saunders. Their book was a real eye-opener about the truth of bipolar and written in a straightforward way by simply answering questions.

What have we created?

This collaboration resulted in us building an eLearning module which will soon be published on the Bipolar UK website as well as shared with all our Access Learning Management System clients. In this module we sit down with several different collaborators and talk all things bipolar.

Professor Allan Young and Dr Sameer Jauhar of Kings College London kindly gave up their time to explain what bipolar is. They help guide the learner through all the different aspects of bipolar from

• • bipolar 1
  • bipolar 2
  • mania
  • hypomania

The module helps to demystify the misconceptions about living with bipolar by sitting down with individuals who either have bipolar or who are supporting someone with the condition. They share their lived experiences and personal views on what it means to have bipolar today. They come from all walks of life from a songwriter, mother, TV presenter and PhD student.

Increasing understanding of bipolar disorder

Most importantly this module is going to be one of the tools used by Bipolar UK to help encourage the understanding of bipolar disorder. Once the module has been completed learners are able to download a Bipolar Ally badge to use on emails and letters.

Through allyship we can start to normalise conversations around bipolar and banish prejudice and stigma.

Government reception

On 8 November 2022, Bipolar UK will be heading to Westminster for a reception, where they will be talking about the recent Bipolar Commission report they’ve produced and what more can be done to help support those living with bipolar. A key part of their presentation will be showcasing the eLearning module created by The Access Group in collaboration with Bipolar UK.

If you’d like more information about bipolar head over to the Bipolar UK website.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder eLearning course

You can increase your own understanding of bipolar disorder by taking the short eLearning course. From 4 October share this with your friends, family and colleagues, by accessing the module via the Bipolar UK website you can help make a real difference in raising awareness of bipolar disorder.

And you can find more mental health and wellbeing content and the other eLearning modules offered by The Access Group.