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Mania & Hypomania

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

How can friends and family help? 

This section is for friends and family who want to support someone they know with hypomania or mania. 

Start a conversation 

Have an honest conversation about your friend or family member’s hypomania or mania and how it affects them. Ask them questions about their experiences and listen to what they have to say. By talking openly, you can improve your understanding of what things are like for the other person. This will also build trust so that your friend or family member feels more comfortable talking about their experiences in future and to ask for help if they need it. 

“What feels real is real for him in that moment. It helps when I respect that and comfort him rather than trying to explain it’s not ‘real’ for everyone else.” 

Ask what you can do 

If someone has experienced hypomania or mania before, they will often have an idea of what helps them and what doesn’t. Ask how you can help. If they don’t know, you could offer to help by exploring options together.

Offer to help with self-management 

It might be helpful to work with your friend or family member to help them identify their triggers and warning signs, and to put together a self-management plan to help them manage their symptoms better. Ask questions, make suggestions and remember that you may have different ideas about what is and isn’t a problem. Once you have a final plan, write it down so you can both look at it if your friend or family member becomes unwell. 

“Looking out for patterns, talking, remaining calm and supportive is essential.” 

Try not to make assumptions 

It’s understandable to be worried about potential signs of hypomania and mania, but it’s important not to question every time your friend or family member is in a good mood. It’s completely normal for everyone to have ups and downs, and they might find it frustrating if someone starts to worry every time they have a good day. It might help to look for consistent signs and patterns that they are becoming unwell, and to talk together about what this might look like. 

Let them know you’re worried 

If you’re worried that your friend or family member is becoming unwell, try to address this with them gently. Don’t criticise or accuse, and stay calm and non-confrontational. Explain that you’ve noticed changes in their behaviour and why it concerns you, and ask if they’ve noticed it too. If this has happened before, gently remind them of this and explain the pattern you see. If they say they’re fine, you could suggest that you see how things go and review the situation in a few days. 

Discuss challenging behaviour 

If someone is very unwell, they may behave in a difficult or challenging way and may not see their behaviour as a problem. If this happens, it’s OK for you to set boundaries – for example, that you will end the conversation if someone is rude or aggressive with you, or that you won’t participate in any grand ideas or schemes if you feel they will have negative consequences. Explain this calmly to your friend or family member, and try not to get into an argument. 

Be supportive afterwards 

If someone has been unwell, they may feel embarrassed or ashamed of their behaviour. Reassure them that you still care and that you understand this behaviour is part of their hypomania or mania. If your friend or family member is worried that their behaviour may have long-term effects, you could offer to help them resolve this – such as helping with a financial plan or working out how to improve relationships that have been affected. 

“If those around me are concerned about whether changes are symptomatic of relapse [I encourage them] to ask, not assume.” 

Be an advocate 

Getting the right care and support can be difficult and frustrating, particularly if you are unwell, so your friend or family member may want you to help with this. For example, you could offer to research treatments or self-help techniques, find information about support groups in your area, or look into finding a mental health advocate.

Plan for a crisis 

It’s a good idea to make a crisis plan that explains what to do if someone becomes very unwell. This would include who to contact, what to do and when would be an appropriate time to consider hospital treatment. Agree this in advance, and keep a written copy. 

Look after yourself 

It can sometimes be really challenging to support someone, and it’s common to feel overwhelmed at times. It’s important to remember to look after your own mental health too, so you have the energy, time and distance you need to be able to help your friend or family member. 

For example: 

  • Set boundaries and don’t take too much on. If you become unwell yourself you won’t be able to offer as much support. It is also important to decide what your limits are and how much you are able to help them. See our pages on how to manage stress for more information. 
  • Share your caring role with others, if you can. It’s often easier to support someone if you’re not doing it alone. 
  • Talk to others about how you’re feeling. You may want to be careful about how much information you share about the person you’re supporting, but talking about your own feelings with someone you trust can help you feel supported too. 

See our pages on how to cope when supporting someone else for more suggestions on what you can do, and where you can go for support.

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

How can friends and family help? 

How can friends and family help? 

This section is for friends and family who want to support someone they know with hypomania or mania. 

Start a conversation 

Have an honest conversation about your friend or family member's hypomania or mania and how it affects them. Ask them questions about their experiences and listen to what they have to say. By talking openly, you can improve your understanding of what things are like for the other person. This will also build trust so that your friend or family member feels more comfortable talking about their experiences in future and to ask for help if they need it. 

"What feels real is real for him in that moment. It helps when I respect that and comfort him rather than trying to explain it's not 'real' for everyone else." 

Ask what you can do 

If someone has experienced hypomania or mania before, they will often have an idea of what helps them and what doesn't. Ask how you can help. If they don't know, you could offer to help by exploring options together.

Offer to help with self-management 

It might be helpful to work with your friend or family member to help them identify their triggers and warning signs, and to put together a self-management plan to help them manage their symptoms better. Ask questions, make suggestions and remember that you may have different ideas about what is and isn't a problem. Once you have a final plan, write it down so you can both look at it if your friend or family member becomes unwell. 

"Looking out for patterns, talking, remaining calm and supportive is essential." 

Try not to make assumptions 

It’s understandable to be worried about potential signs of hypomania and mania, but it’s important not to question every time your friend or family member is in a good mood. It's completely normal for everyone to have ups and downs, and they might find it frustrating if someone starts to worry every time they have a good day. It might help to look for consistent signs and patterns that they are becoming unwell, and to talk together about what this might look like. 

Let them know you're worried 

If you're worried that your friend or family member is becoming unwell, try to address this with them gently. Don't criticise or accuse, and stay calm and non-confrontational. Explain that you've noticed changes in their behaviour and why it concerns you, and ask if they’ve noticed it too. If this has happened before, gently remind them of this and explain the pattern you see. If they say they're fine, you could suggest that you see how things go and review the situation in a few days. 

Discuss challenging behaviour 

If someone is very unwell, they may behave in a difficult or challenging way and may not see their behaviour as a problem. If this happens, it's OK for you to set boundaries – for example, that you will end the conversation if someone is rude or aggressive with you, or that you won't participate in any grand ideas or schemes if you feel they will have negative consequences. Explain this calmly to your friend or family member, and try not to get into an argument. 

Be supportive afterwards 

If someone has been unwell, they may feel embarrassed or ashamed of their behaviour. Reassure them that you still care and that you understand this behaviour is part of their hypomania or mania. If your friend or family member is worried that their behaviour may have long-term effects, you could offer to help them resolve this – such as helping with a financial plan or working out how to improve relationships that have been affected. 

"If those around me are concerned about whether changes are symptomatic of relapse [I encourage them] to ask, not assume." 

Be an advocate 

Getting the right care and support can be difficult and frustrating, particularly if you are unwell, so your friend or family member may want you to help with this. For example, you could offer to research treatments or self-help techniques, find information about support groups in your area, or look into finding a mental health advocate.

Plan for a crisis 

It's a good idea to make a crisis plan that explains what to do if someone becomes very unwell. This would include who to contact, what to do and when would be an appropriate time to consider hospital treatment. Agree this in advance, and keep a written copy. 

Look after yourself 

It can sometimes be really challenging to support someone, and it's common to feel overwhelmed at times. It's important to remember to look after your own mental health too, so you have the energy, time and distance you need to be able to help your friend or family member. 

For example: 

  • Set boundaries and don't take too much on. If you become unwell yourself you won't be able to offer as much support. It is also important to decide what your limits are and how much you are able to help them. See our pages on how to manage stress for more information. 
  • Share your caring role with others, if you can. It's often easier to support someone if you're not doing it alone. 
  • Talk to others about how you’re feeling. You may want to be careful about how much information you share about the person you’re supporting, but talking about your own feelings with someone you trust can help you feel supported too. 

See our pages on how to cope when supporting someone else for more suggestions on what you can do, and where you can go for support.