Building resilience to stress after a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis - tool development

This research project is about developing a new online tool to support people who have recently been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Many people find the early months after diagnosis stressful, and stress can make living with Colitis even harder. The aim of this project is to collect real‑life experiences, tips, and examples from people living with Colitis, and use these to create a resource that helps others build confidence and resilience during this time.

To take part you must be:

• aged 16 or older
• live in the UK
• have a confirmed diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis (any disease extent, severity, or duration since diagnosis).

If you decide to take part in this research you will be asked to share your lived experience and short examples of what helped you cope with stressful moments after diagnosis. You will be contributing directly to the design of the tool. 

Taking part is entirely online and involves a one‑off activity to share your experiences through short pieces of writing. 

The researchers would like to hear about: 

✅ Success stories – A short story (around 100 words) about living well with colitis. Tell us what helped you, and share one tip or piece of advice for others.

✅ Advice on specific challenges – Real‑life examples of how you handled common stressful situations, such as deciding who to tell, managing stress at work, or planning social activities.

You’re welcome to submit more than one example, but just one contribution is enough to take part. All examples will be reviewed by people with lived experience of Colitis and Healthcare Professionals and may be edited to remove any identifying details before being published as part of an online tool under a pseudonym you choose. 

If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete the form below for more information. 

By entering your details, you are not committing to take part, but you will be forwarded to the study website for more information. You will have the opportunity to change your mind at any time.