Grant: Project Grant

Stigma refers to negative attitudes and perceptions of individuals with mental illness. When people with mental illness hold these negative beliefs, it is called self-stigma. Many people with bipolar disorder have high levels of self-stigma, which can prevent them from getting the help they need and benefiting from treatments. Narrative enhancement and cognitive therapy (NECT) combines different therapy approaches to reduce self-stigma. It has largely been tested among middle-aged adults who are experiencing psychosis. We have adapted NECT for young adults in Canada with bipolar disorders. A team of young people with lived experience have enhanced the intervention for young adults with bipolar disorder (NECT-YBD) by adding co-facilitation by peer support workers with lived experience of bipolar disorder and adding a goal-setting module to help young adults move forward in their recovery. This project proposes three objectives: 1) to assess whether it is feasible to run a full-scale study of the new NECT-BD, 2) to assess whether the new version is acceptable to patients and service providers, 3) to explore facilitator ability to administer the new intervention as intended. We propose a pilot study comparing the adapted version of NECT-YBD to usual care in two different out-patient clinics in hospital settings. Patients will receive either NECT-YBD or usual care and the impact will be tested. We will also hold interviews with patients and facilitators/clinical managers to understand the treatment experience. Addressing self-stigma as an early intervention with young adults who have bipolar disorder, thereby helping them build a healthy identity, has the potential to help patients progress in their personal recovery journeys.