Youth will consult with other youth with bipolar disorder from across the region about their personal strategies for wellness and engage in mutual learning and knowledge exchange

The Bipolar Youth Action Project (BYAP) is a research initiative designed to speak with youth who have bipolar disorder about strategies for wellness and best methods for sharing wellness information with others. It’s being rolled out in four phases under a partnership between the Bipolar Disorder Society of B.C. and the CREST.BD network.

As someone who has struggled with bipolar, I realize how important such a project is. I have experienced serious bouts of psychosis, mania and depression and my hope in life is not to have others suffer as I have. We all need to find ways to stay well, especially our youth that live with bipolar disorder. — Andrea Paquette a.k.a. Bipolar Babe

The Bipolar Disorder Society of BC (BDSBC) is a grassroots organization based in Victoria, BC. The group has experience working with youth who live with bipolar disorder. For example, members of the organization do classroom presentations on mental health to nearly 2000 students a year, and the organization provides support programs (such as Teens2Twenties) for youth facing mental health challenges.

The CREST.BD network has plenty of experience in how to undertake effective community-engaged research in bipolar disorder. It also has solid scientific data on what people can do to live successfully with the condition. A key finding from CREST.BD’s research has been that people with Bipolar Disorder can have good health and quality of life, and that learning about effective self-management techniques is a key step in this process. However, until now, most of CREST.BD’s work has been conducted with adults living with bipolar disorder.

The space that CREST BD and BDSBC are planning to create will allow youth to express their research findings and have them apply their knowledge through multiple avenues, according to their needs and the needs of their peers. The goal for our two organizations is to create a unique and valuable experience and encourage the wellness of youth living with bipolar disorder.  — Bipolar Babe website

We speak with Andrea Paquette a.k.a. Bipolar Babe.

Images: (top) istockphoto; (bottom) Andrea Paquette

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audio: Andrea Paquette @Bipolar_Babe about bipolar youth action project @CREST_BD @CHLYRadio http://t.co/mdMifq5GK7 pic.twitter.com/7nmqKtm5Lm

— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) February 13, 2015