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Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember18 June 2018, 3:02 pm AEST

Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Supporting a loved one experiencing a mental illness can be challenging at times. Particularly when we feel excluded from their treatment journey.

For this month’s Topic Tuesday, we’ll be joined by @Lynne1 from Mental Health Carers Tasmania. @Lynne1 will share her experiences, with a view to explore how you can feel more connected and included in your loved one's recovery.

We look forward to hearing your experiences 🐼

Want to receive an email reminder on the night? Hit the 'Like' button below.

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The first post of the thread (this one) will give you an idea of what the topic is and what will be covered.

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Throughout the session, the facilitator will put questions out for you to answer, usually asking for your own experience on the topic. To contribute to the session, just hit the 'reply' button and share your thoughts. No answers are right or wrong and everyone is welcome to get involved.

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

AdgeSenior Contributor21 Aug 2018, 7:18 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Yes I can very much relate to that @Lynne1

Feeling unable to find ways to be (or feel) heard, especially by service providers.

I'm unable to think of any advice to help, at this stage.

Adge

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

CharlieBravoContributor21 Aug 2018, 7:21 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

I've asked therapists whether they're aware of the US experience which tells a story of improved patient outcomes when the family and support group rallies around the patient and gets involved in their recovery, and they just go blank. My concern is that therapists consider the condition a bit of a "dustbin diagnosis" and dislike treating it, let alone having to be involved with familes, too. Anyone else feel like that?

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

CharlieBravoContributor21 Aug 2018, 7:22 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Sorry about the spelling BTW I am trying to type quickly to keep the conversation rolling...

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember21 Aug 2018, 7:26 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Sounds really frustrating @CharlieBravo Particularly given that outcomes are often improved when family and carers are involved in a persons treatment and recovery.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Lynne1Senior Contributor21 Aug 2018, 7:27 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Well said, Charlie Bravo. There are quite a few papers on how a service provider might use privacy concerns as a way to avoid engaging with carers, it's not easy for them in many cases. At the same time, when service providers have explored why this is the case, they say they feel caught in the middle: that they have been working with the client towards building trust, which is often a sensitive and difficult task ... the service provider doesn't want to risk this trust. In my experience though, there are many ways to engage with carers without risking trust.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

CharlieBravoContributor21 Aug 2018, 7:29 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

@Former-Member wrote:
Sounds really frustrating @CharlieBravo Particularly given that outcomes are often improved when family and carers are involved in a persons treatment and recovery.

Do the therapists generally seem to know that, though? I get the feeling they think the patient is better off dealing just with the professionals. They seem to forget who carries the can the other 167.25 hours of the week when the patient isn't sitting in their office.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Lynne1Senior Contributor21 Aug 2018, 7:29 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

That's so true Margot. It's about moving from the old model of service provider as expert towards seeing carers as partners towards recovery.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

outlanderSenior Contributor21 Aug 2018, 7:31 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

thanks @Former-Member @Lynne1 for arranging this chat
i need to duck out though, some of the words are becoming triggerring for me. will try to read a little later

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Lynne1Senior Contributor21 Aug 2018, 7:32 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

Charlie Bravo, you've summed up the topic, feeling excluded in a loved one's journey. I've felt that way too. Service provider training is changing though, and are becoming more aware although it can seem like a slow process. More on that later!

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

CharlieBravoContributor21 Aug 2018, 7:32 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

@Lynne1 wrote:
That's so true Margot. It's about moving from the old model of service provider as expert towards seeing carers as partners towards recovery.

I like that language. Have you spoken to service providers in that vein and acheived better results?

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