|
A
creative writing project to gather individuals’ stories using their own
words of their circumstances and experiences with mental health
services.
The
stories will be reviewed:
(i)
to assess any benefits arising for care and treatment plans, daily
living arrangements and social provisions;
(ii)
to assess whether they aid communication and understanding between
service users, carers and professionals;
(iii) as training material for healthcare professionals, e.g. a CD with
real life stories, or play-lets for considering common themes from the
stories, highlighting issues affecting care, understanding and
communication.
(iv)
to consider whether innovative interventions could help.
Innovations might include extended family conferences; or gathering more
information at the pre-referral, primary care level.
The
latter would not be therapy or an assessment within the mental health
services, but fact finding to aid decisions. Information gathered may
show the person is having normal emotional reactions to challenging
circumstances.
A
mental health referral, and the accompanying stigma, may be avoided if
support and education about recognising and handling emotions is
offered. Guidance towards practical solutions would help the person
gains life skills and be better able to manage their life. |