Transcript Slide 1

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Introductory Session
Getting to know each other
Turn to the person next to you and interview each other using
the following questions:
•What’s your favourite leisure time activity?
•Where were you born?
•What’s your middle name?
•What’s something unique or unusual that you’ve done?
What the program offers
Week One: Getting to know
each other. History and basic
facts about mental illness.
What is recovery?
Week Four: Stages of
recovery model. Learning to
plan and manage our
recovery.
Week Seven: What is
discrimination? What rights
do people with mental illness
have? How can I advocate for
myself or find advocacy
support?
Week Two: Renewing a
positive sense of self.
Mapping our strengths and
resources. What is stigma,
how does it affect us, and
what can we do about it?
Week Five: Identifying our
early warning signs. Getting
organised in case of relapse.
Advanced Directive
statements.
Week Three: Healthy lifestyle
activities that feel good and
help us keep well. What are
triggers? Learning about the
Holistic Health Model.
Week Eight: What do I want
to get out of life and what
resources can help me get
there? Getting back into work,
study, volunteering.
Week Nine: Reflecting on our
goals and what we’ve learnt.
Valuing our peers and
celebrating how far we’ve
come on the recovery
journey.
Week Six: Communication
skills and practice. How to
communicate with doctors
and workers so that we can
get the best outcomes.
Week One
Mental Illness and
Recovery Possibilities
Intentional Peer Support
The Four Tasks:
Connection: being authentic, listening closely and developing trust. Relationship terms
are discussed and negotiated.
World view: appreciating how we’ve come to know what we know, and accepting
peoples’ different backgrounds and experiences, and different world views.
Mutuality: mutually working together to learn new knowledge and develop new
approaches
Moving towards: moving out of what’s comfortable and familiar, towards new ways of
being in recovery
Three Principles:
Learning versus Helping
Relationship versus the Individual
Hope and Possibility versus Fear
Your input
•Participation
•Step outside your comfort zone sometimes
•Commitment
•Work together
•Being on time
•Regular attendance
•Confidentiality
Definition of mental illness?
Mental illness is a term
used to describe the
experience of disturbing
and harmful thoughts,
moods, behaviours and
perceptions.
Mental Illness Prevalence in Australia
A 2007 survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that around 1 in 5 people (20%)
had experienced one or more mental disorders in the past 12 months, including an alcohol or
substance use disorder. 8.5% of people experienced 2 or more disorders during a 12 month
period.
The most common mental illnesses in Australia are:
-Anxiety disorders (1 in 7 people) – these include: panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive
compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder
-Substance abuse disorders (1 in 20 people) – the harmful use of and dependence on alcohol
or drugs
-Affective disorders (1 in 16 people) – includes clinical depression and bipolar mood disorder
Psychotic disorders are less common. Around 3 in 100 people will experience psychosis at
some time in their lives. Most (around 80%) will first be affected in their late teens or twenties.
Some people experience a single episode, while others develop a longer-term illness, which
includes episodes of psychosis, such as schizophrenia (around 1 in 100 Australians).
(From http://www.responseability.org/site/index.cfm?display=134881
Recovery definition
“Recovery is a deeply personal, unique process of changing
one’s attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills, and/or roles. It
is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful and contributing life
even within the limitations caused by illness. Recovery
involves the development of new meanings and purpose in
one’s life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of
mental illness.”
(W.A. Anthony 1993, ‘Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of
the mental health system in the 1990s, Innovations and Research,
97:586-594)
The CHIME Model – 5 Recovery Processes
•Connectedness: having peers, good relationships, support
from others and being part of the community
•Hope and optimism about the future: believing in recovery,
motivated to change, positive thinking, having aspirations
•Identity: rebuilding a positive sense of yourself and dealing
with stigma
•Meaning in life: making sense of mental illness, having a
good life, rebuilding your life
•Empowerment: being responsible for wellbeing, being in
charge, focus on your strengths.
(From Leamy and others: 2011)
Week Two
Recovering a Holistic
Picture of Myself
“Having
bi-polar
disorder
messed my life up. When I was
really sick I didn’t know who I
was or what I wanted to get out
of life. I started to doubt
whether I could ever be
‘myself’ and have a normal life
again?”
There are
different ways
we can look at
things
Stigma
By discussing our stigma experiences and
‘stigmatised identities’, we can free ourselves up to
create new meanings about our mental struggles
and we can come to value what we have gained in
our healing. We can be more aware of what we
have to offer society and what we can look forward
to in life.
Week Three
Treating Myself
Whole Person Health Model
•Helps us to understand that traumatic events in the four main
areas of our lives – the psychological, the social, the biological and
the cultural – can all contribute to mental health problems
•Is accepted and referred to by both medical and social scientists
as the ‘bio-psycho-social’ model, but in MI Recovery we’ll refer to it
as the Whole Person Health Model
•Shows how the causes, symptoms and treatments for mental
illness are related
•Can assist us in planning our recovery
Personal Treatment
Enjoyable and
healthy activities that
I do for myself, that
decrease stress and
symptoms, help my
moods, and help me
manage the things
that trigger my
symptoms.
Research-Based Personal Medicine
Lifestyle Strategies
Sleep: Adequate sleep every night has a positive
impact on your mood and energy. Poor sleep
patterns can trigger symptoms. If you have
trouble sleeping talk to your doctor, but try the
following first:
 Avoid coffee, coke, tea and chocolate as they can keep you awake
 Wind down for a period before sleep time, doing quiet activities like reading, or a hot
bath
 If you can’t sleep get up after 30 minutes in bed and do something relaxing for a
while (not TV)
 Avoid daytime naps
 Make your bedroom dark, quiet and comfortable.
Research-Based Personal Medicine
Lifestyle Strategies
Reduce Drugs and Alcohol:
Reduce or eliminate alcohol and illicit
drug intake. These interfere with
brain chemicals and prescription
medicines. Alcohol is a depressant.
Exercise: Regular exercise can lift
your spirits, reduce stress, and
produces natural endorphins (happy
brain chemicals). Exercise can be as
easy as walking the dog, riding a
bike to the supermarket, swimming
or throwing a ball with a friend.
Brain-food: Exercise your
brain: Read books and
newspapers as an alternative to
TV. Escape to the library. Find
out more about your diagnosis.
Other People: Check in with people about your
mental health: doctors, family, friends. Ask them if
they think you’re travelling okay. Have they noticed
any changes? Can they help you keep up your
personal medicine strategies?
Research-Based Personal Medicine
Lifestyle Strategies
Creative pursuits: What
do you like doing that you’re
good at or want to improve?
Cooking, writing, knitting,
craft, woodworking,
painting, music?
Diet: Eating well can help your
moods and minimise weight gain:
 Healthy food: eat more fruit and
vegies than meats and sweets
 Keep away from food with
artificial colors , flavours, fats and
sugars, and fast foods.
Being: Take time out to ‘just be’, so that you can reflect positively on your
life and manage stress. Try meditation, relaxation exercises, spiritual
pursuits, breathing exercises, walking at sun-up or sun-down.
Week Four
Planning for Recovery
Stages Of Recovery
Unwell
(confusion,
withdrawal,
negative sense of
self)
Getting on with
life
Thinking about
getting better
(meeting goals,
managing illness,
resilience in the
face of setbacks)
(hope and
awareness of
positive aspects
of self)
Doing things
that help
(steps towards
meaningful goals,
new knowledge
and skills)
Deciding to get
better &
preparing
(thinking about &
using internal
and external
resources)
Week Five
Working with Relapse
The Three P’s
hone Supports:
Keep a list phone numbers in a handy place. These are people and professionals who
you can call any time of the day or night – friends, family members, psychiatrist, CAT,
ambulance etc. Prioritise who you need to call first
rofessional Involvement:
Increase the involvement of your key worker, counsellor, doctor or psychiatrist. They
might recommend temporary increases in your medication under supervision (or
‘emergency’ medications), or using therapies like CBT to help manage thoughts and
behaviours.
ersonal Treatment:
Increase the lifestyle activities that help with managing stress and symptoms.
Consider temporarily limiting activities that can generate stress, like work or social
obligations.
Week Six
Communication Skills
Attentive listening skills
Focus fully on the speaker, on their body language and
emotions. If you are distracted then you will miss non-verbal
clues in the conversation.
Be interested, ask questions that help you understand what
they are discussing.
Avoid interrupting or hijacking the conversation by making it
about you. Listening is not the same as waiting for your turn to
talk. You can’t concentrate on what someone’s saying if you’re
forming what you’re going to say next.
Accept their viewpoint, which doesn’t mean you have to agree
with them. Setting aside your views and opinions can help you
understand where they are coming from, and you might learn
something new.
Communication Styles
Aggressive
Passive
Assertive
Forceful and hostile
expression that tends to use
blaming ‘you’ statements.
Communications can result
in upsetting the listener and
forcing them out of the
conversation or it might
escalate into an aggressive
dispute.
The individual struggles to
express an honest point of
view, or state their needs
and beliefs. They rarely
achieve satisfactory
outcomes and might end up
feeling resentful.
The person clearly
expresses their point of
view, feelings and desires
without excluding the other
person’s point of view or
needs. Both parties know
that they can work out a
solution together.
Errors include: sarcasm,
Negative comparisons,
threats and labels.
Errors include: mindreading, negative
interpretations.
This style often needs
practice, but is the style
most likely to achieve a
positive outcome.
Barriers to Effective Communication
Environment
Strong emotions
Lack of facts
Lack of skill
Where the
conversation is set
can cause stress or
interference, ie.
Heavy traffic,
inpatient clinic.
Anger, anxiety,
frustration and
guilt can get in the
way of clear
communication.
We might make unfair
demands or assumptions.
It might make us unsure
how to approach a
discussion. It can lead to
misunderstandings. You
may not be able to solve
the problem.
Unhelpful
communication habits
can lead to an
unsatisfactory result.
Medical & Other Supportive Professionals
“The best professionals walked
alongside me,…sharing and
supporting my inner search
for meaning and
understanding of self in
relation to illness”
Simon Champ (1999)
Medical & Other Supportive Professionals
Be Informed
Equip yourself with:
- information about the service and its approach, what it can provide, and what your
rights are
- information about treatment options. The more you know, the more empowered you
will be to get the treatment that works for you
Create a Partnership
Your doctor should :
respect your wishes and value your input
know your hopes and expectations
provide the information you require
help you identify options
You should:
communicate the facts clearly and ask questions,
keep appointments at regular intervals to monitor your health
Medical & Other Supportive Professionals
KeepYour Own Records
-
-
Keep a file of information about your treatment: medications you’ve taken, side
effects, sleep patterns, symptoms, and other information that you think relates to
your treatment plan
Offer information that’s relevant to your treating professional
Plan Ahead
-
Plan (write down) your questions and what you want to say to the doctor
Plan what information you need to tell your doctor
Medical & Other Supportive Professionals
Support person
- Take a support person with you to the appointment if symptoms are getting in
the way of communicating well
- Inform the support person about what you want to say to the professional.
- Keep your support person informed about your recovery plans, hopes
and expectations
After your doctor’s appointment
Don’t hesitate to phone your doctor if:
- You have any questions
- Your symptoms get worse, or you have problems with medication
- You have had tests and you don’t hear from your doctor
Week Seven
Stigma, Discrimination,
Rights and Advocacy
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992
“The objects of this Act are:
(a) to eliminate, as far as possible, discrimination against persons on the ground of
disability in the areas of: work, accommodation, education, access to premises,
clubs and sport; and
the provision of goods, facilities, services and land; and
existing laws; and
the administration of Commonwealth laws and programs; and
(b) to ensure, as far as practicable, that persons with disabilities have the same
rights to equality before the law as the rest of the community; and
(c) to promote recognition and acceptance within the community of the principle that
persons with disabilities have the same fundamental rights as the rest of the
community”
(from http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2012C00110)
Week Eight
Taking Steps Towards
Having a Meaningful
Occupation
The Recovery Journey
“Have a vision of where you want to be and try to find ways
of getting there...Nothing should ever stop you from being
what you want to be ... Don’t ever let anyone tell you. It’s not
their life, it’s your life...”
(from Shepherd, Boardman, Slade “Making Recovery a Reality”, p. 4)
The Importance of Work
“An important sign of progress in recovery is when illness no
longer dominates a person’s life and identity, and they begin to
contribute to external interests, such as work, family, friends or
social causes, or to offer hope and inspiration to others.”
“Work and employment remain the primary means through
which people connect with their communities and build their
lives. Finding you ‘have something to give’, as well as needing
help, is central to building a positive sense of self-esteem and
this is at the heart of recovery.”
What Does Research Say About
Employment & Recovery
•Work improves physical and mental health
•Many people consider working as the first recovery step, as it is ‘normative’
and reduces self-stigma
•Biological benefits: International studies show that employment results in
reduced symptoms and few hospitalisations
•Psychological benefits include: increased independence, improved sense of
worth and improved relationships
•Sociological benefits include: income generation, structured use of time, and
contact with people outside of family, enforced activity and involvement in
shared goals
External Vocational Resources
Employment Services – Specialist, Disability or Generalist
These employ consultants who can work closely with you and they:
•Can help you identify skills and goals, prepare you for employment, match you
to a suitable job, and provide continuing support
•Can help address any barriers to access work (transport, clothing, motivation)
•Have a responsibility to educate employers about mental illness
•Can link you into skill development opportunities
•Can help you devise a holistic plan to maintain your mental wellbeing at work,
and can involve family and medical practitioners in this plan
•Can help you negotiate workplace accommodations as required, or flexibility,
such as suitable hours, work from home, onsite support, unpaid leave if
necessary
Visit www.jobsearch.gov.au to locate an employment service provider
Other Resources
Employment Personal Helpers and Mentors Service
PHaMs Employment Services provide support for people with a mental illness receiving the
Disability Support Pension or other government support payment who are engaged, or willing to
engage, with employment services and who have economic participation as a primary goal in
their Individual Recovery Plan.
Organisations are funded to provide specialist support and work with government employment
services, such as Disability Employment Services, Job Services Australia, state-funded services
and social enterprises, to assist PHaMs participants to address non-vocational issues that are
barriers to finding and maintaining employment, training or education.
Natural Supports
Most jobs are found through the ‘hidden job market’ – positions that have not been advertised.
Think about your own networks and any possible opportunities that you could explore through
these connections.
Week Nine
Program Review and
Conclusion
Reflections…
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