The Registration Process

Hi, my name is Sue, and I'm Lizzi and we are the REACT supporters I got involved with the REACT trial because I'm really aware of the lack of support for family and friends of people with bipolar disorder and the distress that discovering someone you care for has an ongoing condition. I'm all too aware of the impact that this can have across families and their relationships with each other. Three members of my family have bipolar disorder, and I have supported my mum over the last forty years. With each person the condition and how it impacts their daily life is different; I feel very aware that relatives need real support in situations which can often be very challenging. I got involved with the REACT trial for two reasons. I am generally interested in evidence based healthcare and I also have experience of supporting a friend with a serious mental health condition. It's a great opportunity to access information and support for yourself, helping you to manage in complex and sometimes difficult situations. When my son became unwell, I had no idea where to go for advice. Support available is often hidden and this project aims to put all resources together in one place to really help you. You taking part now will also help other relatives in the future. The ultimate aim of this trial is to enable effective support for all relatives in the same situation as you. Research like this feeds into the services you use, so being part of this trial may not only benefit you but it could also change things for the better for everyone. The registration process is split into two parts. The first part takes about 10 minutes and this is to get your details, checks your eligibility to take part and sets you up on the system. The second part is a series of questionnaires about your personal circumstances, how you're feeling at the moment, and the support you currently receive. This part can take around 30 minutes, but will vary from person to person. Some of the questionnaires you'll see have been used for a long time, and are standard across research. This means that some of the language may come across as a bit old-fashioned. Please don't be put off - just answer the questions to the best of your ability, and remember - there's no right or wrong answers! Your answers are all important so we can assess the impact of taking part on your wellbeing. After you've answered the questionnaires, a computer will randomly allocate you to receive either the Resource Directory or the REACT toolkit. Both these contain information to help you as a relative. We hope you're inspired to get involved. If you're having any problems, please just send us a quick email on react@lancaster.ac.uk