Supporting people with bipolar disorder through mood on track
Michaela, a Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner, helps run our Mood on Track group — a cognitive behavioural therapy-based intervention for people living with bipolar disorder.
Mood on Track is an eight-week group that brings together around 8-10 people for weekly sessions. The programme helps people understand their mood patterns, develop practical coping strategies, and connect with others who are on a similar journey. There’s also an optional session for family and friends, and one-to-one follow up support available if needed.
Sessions cover topics such as sleep, stress, lifestyle and recognising early warning signs, helping people develop personalised plans to stay well.
A welcoming space
Michaela understands that joining a group can feel daunting. “A lot of people feel nervous at first,” she says. “There’s often a perception that group settings can be uncomfortable or intimidating.”
But this quickly changes. “The feedback we hear most is how positive and supportive it feels. People really value being part of a group where others genuinely understand them,” she explains. “And it’s much more relaxed than people expect – we bring biscuits and snacks and try to keep it informal.
The power of shared experience
A key part of the group is shared experience, including support from a lived experience facilitator. “There’s something incredibly powerful about being in a room with people who truly understand what you’re going through,” Michaela says. “That sense of connection can be very empowering.
One of Michaela’s proudest moments was supporting a former participant to return as a lived experience facilitator: “She found the group really helpful, but suggested that it would be even more impactful to include someone with lived experience as part of the team…she was so appreciative to be asked – it was a really special moment.”
Breaking stigma
Challenging misconceptions about bipolar disorder is an important part of the programme.
“It’s a very widely misunderstood and stigmatised condition,” Michaela explains. “Particularly because of the changes in mood and the behaviours that can happen during periods of mania, which are beyond a person’s control. Early warning signs look different for everyone – it might be sleeping less, spending impulsively or feeling unusually sociable.”
Recognising these patterns takes time, education and support, which Mood on Track aims to provide.
Michaela’s message for anyone who may be struggling is:
“If and when you feel ready, reaching out for support from a group like Mood on Track within your local mental health services can be a really positive step.
“If you don’t feel ready to jump into a group or any services just yet, there are also excellent self-help resources available through organisations like Bipolar UK , including their app for mood monitoring that can help you better understand your mood changes.
“Most importantly, there is no judgement, and you are not alone in your experiences.”
Find more information about Bipolar disorder, including the symptoms and treatment, on the NHS website.
Photo caption: Michaela with her colleague Lauren, who also helps to facilitate the Mood on Track group.
