Report on Advancing Psychosocial Care for Bipolar Disorder in Canada

We’re proud to announce the launch of Charting a New Course: A Roadmap to Improve Psychosocial Care for Canadians with Bipolar Disorder – a collaborative report from the CREST.BD  network at the University of British Columbia and the Daymark Foundation – that outlines key priorities and promising solutions to enhance and increase access to psychosocial supports for people living with bipolar disorder (BD) in Canada.

Why This Report Matters

Bipolar disorder affects over half a million people in Canada, yet far too many face significant barriers to the care they need, especially when it comes to psychological and social (or ‘psychosocial’) supports. While medication remains an essential component of BD treatment, it’s not enough. Many people continue to experience relapses, lingering symptoms, and a reduced quality of life even while on medication. Evidence-informed psychosocial interventions, like psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioural therapy, can be life-changing. Yet access to these treatments in Canada is inconsistent, inequitable, and often not culturally appropriate.

What We Set Out to Do

Our two organizations led a national initiative to identify top priorities for psychosocial care in BD and explore feasible paths forward. Through a process known as ‘deliberative dialogue,’ we convened people living with BD, families, clinicians, researchers, policy leaders, and community organizations to share experiences and build consensus. Together, we:

• Assessed the existing evidence base for psychosocial interventions in BD;

• Identified barriers to putting that evidence into action;

• Generated practical, equity-focused ideas to improve care;

• Prioritized the most promising opportunities for change.

What We Heard

Our consultations revealed five key insights about the current state and future potential of psychosocial care for people living with bipolar disorder in Canada:

1. Psychosocial care is undervalued
   Despite strong evidence of its benefits, psychosocial care remains underfunded and underutilized. Medication dominates most treatment plans, even though it’s often not enough to support quality of life.

2. Lived experience is not driving research or policy
   People with BD and their families often feel disconnected from the research that’s supposed to serve them. There’s a clear need to align priorities with real-world needs, especially around trauma, recovery, and holistic wellness.

3. Equity gaps persist
   Systemic barriers – especially for rural, low-income, Indigenous, racialized, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities – limit access to timely, culturally appropriate care. A one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work.

4. Families are essential but overlooked
   Family members play a vital role in care and recovery, yet often lack support themselves. Better communication, education, and inclusion in care planning are urgently needed.

5. The system is stretched
   Frontline healthcare providers are doing their best, but many lack training in BD-specific care, particularly in primary care settings. Investing in workforce development is key to sustainable change.

What’s Next

As we move forward, we’ve identified several potential priority actions for the field, including:

• Creating a guide for newly diagnosed individuals to support recovery and system navigation;

• Developing a central, online resource hub for people with BD and their supporters;

• Supporting access to BD-informed healthcare providers;

• Building educational tools to better equip clinicians, families, and community members;

• Exploring the creation of a pan-Canadian organization focused on psychosocial care and advocacy for BD.