The family of a young Tauranga man who took his life due to bipolar disorder are establishing a new trust and treatment centre for people with mental illness.

Matt Skellern Bipolar Trust trustees Graham Skellern, Janet Peters, Peter Tinholt, Brett Hewlett and Claire Beard.

Matthew Skellern, a town planner who worked for Harrison Grierson and Bay of Plenty Regional Council, took his life in May 2012 as living with bipolar and its huge mood swings became too difficult.

Now his family are establishing a trust to provide inspiring and effective services for people with bipolar and other mental difficulties.

The Matt Skellern Bipolar Trust has started an in-depth research project working towards creating the blueprint for a new centre of innovation and place of retreat for people with bipolar.

The centre, located on an accessible rural and peaceful property in Tauranga, will be an alternative to in-patient unit treatment, and incorporate the best of clinical, therapeutic and healthy living practices to create a balanced lifestyle.

It also wants to increase public awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding bipolar.

Bipolar, previously known as manic depression, is one of the severest forms of mental illness which occurs in one per cent of New Zealand's population.

People with bipolar experience pronounced and unpredictable periods of feeling high (mania) and deep depression, spliced with normal moods.

The trust was incorporated in March this year, and presently has five trustees: Consultant and journalist Graham Skellern, registered psychologist Janet Peters, occupational therapist and clinical Board member at Tauranga Hospital Claire Beard, Comvita New Zealand chief executive Brett Hewlett, and Taura Natural Ingredients' general manager Asia Pacific Peter Tinholt.

The research is being conducted by Emma Skellern, a psychologist, mental health researcher and sister of Matthew.

Her research will draw from new and best practice in NZ and overseas to identify an affective and achievable contribution to New Zealand's mental health and addiction services.

"Emma's research is dedicated to instilling more hope for people like Matthew,'' says Graham Skellern, the Trust's chairperson.

"Matthew needed services and peer support that he felt comfortable and safe with; and equip him with the skills and knowledge to navigate the immense difficulties living with bipolar can present.

"Given the right support, people with bipolar can harness the gifts and talents that so often come with their sensitive and creative dispositions, and they can lead very successful lives.''

Graham says the centre will provide a refuge for people with bipolar to weather out the storms, supported by others who care and understand including family members, `veterans' who have navigated the high and lows of bipolar, and visiting specialists.

"The centre provides a safe and therapeutic environment, where people with bipolar can recognise warning signs (early intervention) and acquire the skills to navigate the mood extremities more effectively.

"Peer support will be a major element because no-one understands bipolar to the same degree as those who have lived with it for many years,'' says Graham.