Posted April 15th 2025
The Bipolar Education Programme Cymru (BEPC) is an award-winning and Bevan Exemplar group psychoeducation intervention that aims to improve the quality of life for people affected by bipolar disorder. It supports those with the diagnosis of bipolar as well as their friends, family or clinical staff through psychoeducation courses that can be provided in person or online.
Empowering individuals to better manage their condition
BEPC enables individuals to better manage their condition by understanding the symptoms of bipolar disorder, identifying their triggers and monitoring their mood to help them stay as well as possible. Topics include the causes of bipolar disorder, use of medication, psychological and lifestyle approaches, as well as monitoring mood, identifying triggers and early warning signatures.
Psychoeducation interventions are endorsed in the NICE guidelines for the assessment and management of bipolar disorder. We have also received impressive feedback from participants who have completed the BEPC courses.
For example, 81% of participants stated that they gained new information and insight about managing bipolar. Additionally, 89% stated that they were highly satisfied with the programme, and 96% said they would encourage others affected by bipolar to attend.
“It is a privilege to share in the BEPC participants journey of awareness and understanding of bipolar disorder during each cohort and good to be able to provide evidenced based interventions to those many people affected by this enduring, and at times severe, mental health condition,”
said BEPC project co-author and Cardiff mental health nurse, John Tredget.
Successful training in bipolar education is vital
Following the success of the BEPC groups held throughout Wales which has hosted 850+ people over the last 15 years, National Centre for Mental Health based at Cardiff University is proud to announce two facilitator training programmes now available on both Learning@Wales and the ESR, for both the in-person and virtual groups.
The BEPC facilitator training courses will provide guidance on running the courses, and all the necessary training and participant materials.
NCMH director and BEPC co-author Professor Ian Jones said: “Training other clinicians to implement the BEPC groups will ensure the provision of these engaging, enjoyable and beneficial courses into the future, whilst at the same time enhancing the clinical and group-working skills of professionals.”
To access the BEPC facilitator training courses, visit Learning@Wales or the ESR, and search for ‘Bipolar’; users can enrol on the courses directly without the need for an access key.
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