Bipolar Education Programme

The Bipolar Education Programme is a group psychoeducation and support programme for service users over the age of 18 diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) more formerly known as Manic Depression .

This is a unique education programme for Bipolar Disorder in the Republic of Ireland. The programme was established more than 20 years ago. It has constantly involved incorporating feedback from service users and best clinical evidence. The Bipolar Education Programme is a 13 week programme offering education and support for individuals and their families in the post acute (middle) phase of recovery. This programme is coordinated by a Clinical Nurse Specialist with Cognitive Therapy training.

Our goal is to provide a service that is timely, relevant and appropriate to the need of the individual and their families by offering psychosocial interventions with proven efficacy that are practical and accessible.

We advocate a collaborative approach to the management of bipolar disorder. Collaborative care is a way for individuals and their family or friends to work together with their clinician to get the best results from treatment. Collaborative care encourages the individual to assume the largest share of responsibility for making treatment work and fosters treatment concordance . Treatment concordance refers to the extent to which the individual, their clinician and support system are in agreement about the care plan.

We aim to:

Educate patients and their families about Bipolar Disorder and Treatment Approaches
Teach methods of recognising and monitoring the occurrence and severity of mood swings and generate appropriate response plans.
Teach methods for recognising and managing stress and achieving lifestyle balance
Promote treatment concordance and a collaborative approach to care involving the patient, treatment team and family members
To support adjustment to living with a recurring illness and the need for longterm medications.

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The atmosphere of the hospital is very bright, cheerful and friendly. The staff are excellent, uniformly helpful without exception and a credit to the hospital

There is a very good atmosphere at St. Patrick's. Communication is very good between patients and staff and should be maintained on an informal basis. Food is very good and is a very good morale booster for everyone. I would like to thank everyone in St. Patrick's for input and kindness while I have been here

I had 10 unforgettable days with prime quality care and facilities. Most of all, I've met really nice people and hopefully not being wrong made some friends. Good work, keep it up

It was a turning point in my life and a good one. I will always have fond memories of my stay here because the overall feeling was of peace.

Today I'm sad as I leave ye all, but the sadness is one that I like, Because after 8 weeks on the bay, it's time for me to take a hike, thanks to all the nurses and students, to the staff in the kitchen and OT's too, to the lovely ladies who clean the ward, to the doctors where a bond we grew.

The Cleaners kept my room beautifully clean and the Temple Centre was spotless. The staff were so helpful and caring and gave me as much time as I needed. All in all I was very well cared for. Thank you very much

Excellent staff have finally helped me overcome my illness with the correct treatment and also using the recovery psychosis programme which opened my mind to what I suffer from. I have had this for 10 years but now I feel relaxed, free of all fear thanks to the A team. St Pats sets the standard for others to follow.

I do not have a single negative to pass on the time I have spent under the care of the staff of St. Patrick's Hospital other than to say that it varied between very good and exceptional. I came to hospital feeling broken and despairing and leave now feeling renewed and well and looking to the future.

I was most impressed with the care given to my daughter during her stay here. The ambience in the hospital is relaxed and caring. From the cleaners to the nurses, doctors and administrators everybody is on first name terms all working to a common goal of getting people better. Congratulations on a job well done