Managing Bipolar Disorder

About the Managing Bipolar Disorder Program

Introduction

The Managing Bipolar Disorder Program is a 12-week, half-day group program which aims to help people improve how they cope with Bipolar Disorder. This aim is achieved by helping people to:

Monitor and understand their mood symptoms

Identify early warning signs for episodes
Learn how to deal with psychosocial stressors
Learn cognitive and behavioural strategies for managing episodes of depression and mania

Program Content

This program covers the following areas:

Week 1: Overview of Bipolar Disorder
Week 2: Symptom Monitoring for Relapse Prevention
Week 3: Medication Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
Week 4: Behavioural Strategies for Managing and Preventing Depression
Week 5: Cognitive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Depression (Part 1)
Week 6: Cognitive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Depression (Part 2)
Week 7: Cognitive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Depression (Part 3)
Week 8: Cognitive Strategies for Preventing Mania
Week 9: Behavioural Strategies for Preventing Mania
Week 10: Coping with Psychosocial Stressors (Part 1)
Week 11: Coping with Psychosocial Stressors (Part 2)
Week 12: Putting It All Together

Program format

The program involves meeting with a small group of people (maximum of 10) who are experiencing bipolar disorder. This occurs once per week (9am – 12.30pm) for 12 weeks. The program is facilitated by mental health clinicians who specialise in this area.

What is included?

All materials relevant to participating in the program
Links to relevant agencies
Morning tea and tea/coffee

Program costs

Costs of the program may be supported by:

Work Cover (requires individual approval)
Private health funds
Self-funding

Multidisciplinary team

Our clinical team consists of highly skilled and experienced consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health clinical nurses, an exercise physiologist, occupational therapist and social worker. The program is overseen by Buderim Private Hospital’s Director of Psychiatry.

Suitability and referral

We are now accepting referrals for this program.

Your GP or your treating Psychiatrist (if you have one) will need to make a referral to a Consultant Psychiatrist credentialed at Buderim Private Hospital. A list of Admitting Psychiatrists and their contact numbers can be found here.

Your GP/doctor can forward the referral directly to their chosen credentialed Psychiatrist, email it to Cooinda Mental Health Service at Cooinda.Intake@uchealth.com.au or call 1300 780 413 for more information.

Your credentialed Psychiatrist will provide an assessment to ensure eligibility and that the program will meet your needs.

Our inclusion criteria for the Bipolar Program are that people referred are adults who have a clearly defined primary diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, Type 1 or Type II. We also include people in the group program who are depressed or mildly hypomanic at the time the group starts - although those who are in a manic state when the group is due to start will be asked to wait for the next available group.

The program is not designed for people:

Whose use of drugs or alcohol will interfere with their ability to attend groups regularly, participate in group sessions or take in group content
Who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
Whose primary diagnosis is complicated by a longstanding personality disorder.

The Cooinda Mental Health Service will review each person referred in order to determine whether they will be suitable to start the group.

For more information, please contact the Cooinda Mental Health Service on 1300 780 413 or complete the online form below. The commencement and finish dates for the program can be found by visiting the Outpatient Day Program Calendar.

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