Supporting a person with Depression or Bipolar Disorder - Breda Dooley

Aware Lecture Series
February 2016

‘Supporting, caring for and loving a person with Depression or Bipolar Disorder whilst caring for yourself’ presented by Breda Dooley, MA Applied Psychology, MA Counselling & Psychotherapy, Professional Certification CBT

Breda Dooley was diagnosed with Bipolar aged 36. She presents on the personal boundaries required in families between the person diagnosed with a mental illness and their partners. Breda is interested in the family as a unit trying to deal with the challenge of coping when one member has a mental health condition. Breda references her own life experience as a parent and partner of 27 years to her husband. She also references her academic research on ‘Partners of a person who has a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder’.  Feedback from her qualitative interviews with research participants indicate a felt difficulty of partners locating support in relation to their role as a ‘carer’ within the relationship/family unit. *

*Aware is developing a new programme for family members of people who experience depression or bipolar.

Visit Aware.ie to access information and supports for Depression or Bipolar Mood Disorder.