A Project to Improve Access to Bipolar Disorder Tools and Resources
The Daymark Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a new project focused on improving diagnosis and care for people living with bipolar disorder (BD). Led in collaboration with the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), this 20-month project will scale access to evidence-based tools and other resources that support earlier identification and better outcomes for individuals affected by BD.
This work is a direct extension of Daymark’s broader mission: to advance earlier intervention and quality of life for people with BD. These two priorities guide our investments, collaborations, and strategies – and are the basis of this new initiative.
Why This Work Matters
Bipolar disorder is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, with many individuals experiencing long delays before receiving an accurate diagnosis and appropriate support. This can lead to years of avoidable distress and missed opportunities for effective treatment.
At the same time, there is a growing body of high-quality tools and resources developed by leading clinicians, researchers, and community organizations that can support earlier diagnosis, more consistent care, and better long-term outcomes. Yet these tools often remain underutilized due to behavioural, structural, or informational barriers. This project aims to close that gap.
Two Strategic Goals
The project will focus on two key areas:
Increasing the use of evidence-based screening tools in primary care settings, to help family physicians and other providers identify BD more effectively and efficiently.
Expanding access to high-quality resources for both patients and providers that can support treatment, self-management, and psychosocial well-being.
By supporting the uptake of tools and resources that already exist but are not widely used, we aim to reduce diagnostic delays, support earlier intervention, and improve everyday quality of life for people living with BD.
What the Project Will Do
The project will unfold in several phases:
Tool and resource selection. We’ll work with experts and stakeholders to identify 3-5 high-potential tools and resources.
Partnership development. We’ll identify and engage national organizations that can act as champions – helping to raise awareness, encourage uptake, and ensure the tools reach the people who need them.
Exploratory research. Through qualitative research with patients, families, and providers, we’ll identify practical and perceptual barriers to access, helping us understand what stands in the way of adoption.
Design of uptake strategies. Based on this research, we’ll develop and prioritize strategies to increase access and uptake, such as integrating tools into electronic health records, simplifying complex resource content, and equipping partner organizations with tailored messaging and resources, among other possible strategies.
Implementation and evaluation. We’ll select the most promising strategies and work with partners to implement them. Simultaneously, we’ll measure uptake, learn from the rollout, and share what’s working to support future scale and sustainability.
A Practical, Sustainable Approach
Rather than focusing on general awareness campaigns, this initiative will emphasize practical, systems-based approaches that can be embedded into everyday clinical and community practice. We’ll work to ensure these tools and resources are not only used once, but sustained over time through integration, partnership, and evidence-informed design.
We’re excited to get started, and we look forward to sharing updates, insights, and opportunities to engage as this work unfolds. Together, we aim to create lasting impact by improving access and uptake to tools and resources that can lead to earlier diagnosis and uptake of life-enhancing psychosocial supports.