Partners of Parents with Bipolar

The Spectrum Centre is studying the experiences of people who have a partner with bipolar disorder and who parent a child. We hope to understand the challenges experienced by this group, so that we can develop better support.

Our Story and Aims

The idea for this project came from another ongoing study where we are testing support for parents with bipolar (The IBPI Study). We know from our participants and people with lived experience of bipolar that partners provide invaluable support for someone with bipolar, especially when they are parenting together too. However, we also know this can be stressful, and more support for the partner themselves may be needed.

In the PPB project, we aim to explore the needs and experiences of partners of parents with bipolar, through an online survey and interviews. We also aim to co-design a toolkit for social workers to better understand and support the partners of parents with bipolar.

Want to Get Involved?

We are inviting 150 partners of parents with bipolar to take part. You may be able to take part if you live with your partner and a child aged under 18. To find out more about the study and what participating means, please read our PIS [LINK].

If you're interested in taking part, please click the link below, where we will ask you to share your contact details so that we can get touch to confirm you're eligible to participate.

Click here to register your interest: [LINK]

Who's Already Involved?

This project is led by Professor Steven Jones and hosted at the Spectrum Centre at Lancaster University, and at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT).

We are collaborating with colleagues Catherine Hewitt, based at York Trials Unit at the University of York, as well as Dr Tania Gergel at Bipolar UK, and Professor Brynmor Lloyd-Evans at University College London. Ryan Cowley-Sharp and Katy Cleece (based at LSCFT) and Professor Fiona Lobban (based at Lancaster University) are also collaborating on the project. Keith Sansom is co-ordinating our Carer Reference Group, which includes 8 people with lived experience of caring for someone with bipolar, who are providing feedback on the study's design. Ragin John, Research Assistant at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, is also supporting the project.

Logos of UCL, Bipolar UK, University of York, LSCFT, and NIHR Funding.

This study/project is funded by the NIHR Research Programme for Social Care (NIHR207571). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.