A unique information programme aimed at supporting people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is to be expanded to mental health centres around the country this year.

Traditionally in Ireland, mental health information programme have been led by professionals working in this field. However, the EOLAS programme has been co-designed by mental health service users and their families, along with professionals.

Crucially, the programme is also delivered by both professionals and mental health service users. Two eight-week programmes are offered - one for people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and one for their family members or significant others.

According to an evaluation of EOLAS so far, 84% of participants have reported an improvement in their wellbeing. They also became more confident when dealing with their own mental distress and were better able to advocate for themselves. Their attitude towards their own recovery improved and they became more hopeful.

The programme also proved very successful for family members, with most reporting an increase in knowledge about what their loved one was going through. They also said they were more confident about supporting their loved one.

"EOLAS was a God-send because I was so much in the dark. I was like a zombie walking the streets. No direction to go, no plan, no understanding. After attending that course, I had a plan. I had an understanding," one family member commented.

The programme focuses on information, learning and recovery.

According to Prof Agnes Higgins of Trinity College Dublin, lead investigator on the evaluation of EOLAS, its success can largely be attributed to the fact that it has been co-designed and co-delivered by mental health service users themselves, in combination with clinicians.

"This is in contrast to traditional mental health information programmes in Ireland and internationally which have been practitioner led. In addition to enhancing participants' knowledge, confidence and advocacy skills, the programme provided a platform for peers, clinicians and participants to engage with one another as equals and serves to redress some of the traditional power imbalance and information deficits within mental health services," she commented.

Meanwhile, Dr Pat Gibbons, a consultant psychiatrist and chairperson of the EOLAS project steering committee, described the programme as ‘unique'.

"It forms a bridge between the traditional clinical model of understanding mental health, based on scientific research and knowledge, and the recovery model, which focuses to a much greater extent on learning from the lived experience of people with mental health difficulties and of the people close to them.

"EOLAS succeeds in harnessing the strength and energies of both approaches, and provides a structure within which there can be open communication and collaboration between service users, families and clinicians," he said.

EOLAS was developed and delivered in collaboration with mental health service users, their families, the Kildare Youth Service, the Voluntary Mental Health Support Agencies, SHINE, the Irish Advocacy Network and Trinity College Dublin.

The pilot programme originally ran in Kildare, West Wicklow and some Dublin mental health services, but is now set to be now rolled out nationally. It was originally funded through Genio and is now fully funded by the HSE.

For more information on EOLAS, click here

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