The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) at CYBD, established in 2021, is comprised of seven youth advisors with bipolar disorder. The YAC allows us the opportunity to meaningfully engage with our patients and integrate their voices towards education, stigma reduction, research, and advocacy efforts in the field of youth bipolar disorder.
A great accomplishment of the YAC has been the creation of "Never Alone: A Youth's Guide to Bipolar Disorder," which is an informative and inspirational booklet that shares first-hand narratives about bipolar disorder, written by youth for youth.
Another major YAC achievement is an interview series with CYBD team members designed to share research in an approachable, meaningful way. Filmed in an informal, talk-show style, the interviews cover topics such as cannabis use, eating disorders and exercise, genetics, the connection between heart and brain health, depression, suicide risk and decision-making, personalized exercise interventions, and special considerations such as childhood onset, police contact, and sleep.
