One participant noted that having a
facilitator who experiences bipolar disorder
is “not necessary if everyone else in the
group is bipolar. Facilitating is a skill not
given by being ill with bipolar disorder.”
Others felt that the idea of having facilitators
with a bipolar disorder should be
treated with caution, considering it important
for groups to be run by mental health
professionals; participants also appreciated
the fact that the facilitators did not
talk about themselves.
Some of the participants’ comments are
shown in Box 3. There is a lack of published
evidence supporting the effectiveness of
involving a patient as a facilitator.