Another BlueBoard Refugee

Change of Topic

Last week I had it confirmed by management that the last mental health "service" in our catchment area had indeed become a "business".

A business is a loaded word in social work. It means the entity exists for itself and the clients are reduced to sub-human cash cows. Grant money is absorbed by the "business" and less reaches the community. Duty of care becomes irrelevant. Any feedback or complaint from clients is automatically dismissed as irrational due to psychiatric diagnosis.

Honest confirmation from the Manager that my perception was correct, that the service was now indeed a business, created a significant amount of personal grief for me and I took a week off to self care.

The same day I made that decision another client centred therapist was forced to resign on the spot. They still have not told his clients four days after his resignation. Most are very concerned about what has happened to their worker and their relationship with their worker. Despite deciding to take time out for myself to grieve the management-confirmed demise of an exemplary service, I have found compelled to gently break the news face to face with my vulnerable peers. This has been taxing when I have my own deep grief but they have been cast aside by their service provider without any knowledge or explanation, no replacement worker. My gut feeling is that it is our support of each other that will get us through while we have been left to fall through the cracks.

There is one of us in particular at high risk and I am losing sleep because as resourceful as I am, I cannot find anyone in our region who will help her. She is so high needs that non of us peer's mental health will be able to support her singlehandedly but I'm hoping a community group we will be able to provide her with something to sustain her. Part of me wants to run away because if she doesn't make it, it will have severe consequences on my mental health - anger at all the people in cushy jobs that left her out in the cold but still get paid.

One of my friends is a lawyer and loaded all the relevant legislation that the "businesses" are breaching on my computer - but I don't have the energy to go down that road. I don't have the energy to get police evidedence of client neglect etc, so that it is admissable.

We did get our friend hospitalised but it took us to take out a JEO out on our friend and get the police involved after every other "business" failed her. It saved her life but being the state system, they have let her out without improvement and we are back where we started.

I'm getting all the support I can for myself and taking it as easy as I can. I'm seeing my doctors regularly, taking my medication, meditating, having massages, seeking support, enjoying fun time with friends but not matter how much I self care my sleep is still affected, with worries for my friend. It's like a bomb is about to go off and I feel so powerless to detonate it - and if I get to close, it will take me out with it. I've got to keep a safe distance, and have strong boundaries even though I care so very deeply. As much I can still see there is good in the world, the bad is impacting on me emotionally atm.

Also I came home to a break and enter after my disappointing discussion with the Manager, which added to my stress levels. Instead of going to the police, I fronted up to the worst crime house in my area, introduced myself, told them I wasn't pointing fingers (even though they had plead guilty to previous property offenses against me), said I was just like them, that I struggled, and if they could do anything to help stop my place being "hit" that it would be appreciated. I could have had my head beaten in, but instead it went well - they offered to help me. It was still stressful as it could have gone either way.

I'm trying to get my PTSD down but each day seems to bring more bad news atm.

One positive is that there seems to be a guy who has already started trying to build capacity within the mental health community. I have never heard of him but a mutual friend put me in touch with him yesterday and he was really happy to talk about how as peers mental health consumers we may be able to be form a system where we wouldn't have to rely on and be turned away from these self-serving businesses but could off some degree of support to each other in such a way without impacting on our own mental health.

Grow in a sense is already doing that - but Grow is currently using that "business" as a venue and as more and more discrimination comes at participants on account of their psychiatric diagnosis, it may be important to explore other less discrimatory venues.

I'm exhausted.

Hello my dear friend @GingerWhinger

Was so sad to read of what became of the grant money that you and others worked so hard to obtain for the mental health of your region. I can well and truly understand your distress and disappointment.

I know you are exhausted my friend but I believe it would help if yourself and all others effected in your region; (not putting all the work and emphasis on addressing the problem on yourself only - but get an action group going were the stress can be shared and lifted); to put in writing to the authority/ies that grants the funding the problems and inefficiencies of this new system that are arising. How it is failing to support the mental health of those who seek to use such services, whose mismanagement are failing to implement adequate support for the mentally ill and that such complaints are being fobbed off as being irrational because of mental illness which you believe is discriminatory. If you state the evidence in writing that can be supported they can not deny the facts with discrimination. They (authorities), need to be aware that the funding is being misused/mismanaged. To me that would be the first step and then wait and see.

I am sorry to read about your friend who is really struggling. Although hard please don't let this effect you adversely personally. Detach emotionally. As is such the case with my daughter we need to acknowledge that all we can do is our best to help others - if we do this then we have not failed or let down those who we are supporting. And they know this, that's the main thing - the rest is up to them. That's all we can do and then to let ourselves emotionally detach from the rest for our own well being and sanity.

I am having to do this now (daughter is going through another low period). It's survival - not being uncaring as it doesn't mean we stop trying to help them. If your friend is being let down by the system include this with all the personal information and circumstances/consequences in your letter to the funding authority also (Dept of Health??) - and the Minister/Oppositon for Health - all relevant authorities/local members.

If you aren't up to it - talk to someone who can organise this, an action group on your behalf. They (authorities) have to act or duty of care does become a legal issue. Please ask all others to support you as this should not just rest on your shoulders only as it can become overwhelming (been there, down that).

Then take a step back from everything my friend and let your mind and body rest. Do your best and leave the rest in the laps of the Gods. Here if you need to talk. Sending lots of love xxx

Hi @GingerWhinger

It is terrible that your workplace management model has been prostituted.

My old BIL was a professor of Marxist Economics ... I didnt know there was such a thing ... but there are other concepts than the business model.

The universities are deteriorating due to the same mindset. Students as cash cows and lecturers forced into number games in attracting students etc ... its made me cautious to go back ...being a free agent has potential.

Sustainablity and Purpose can give bigger gains. We know there is more to a successful organisation than economic rationalism.

On the up side I was glad to read your post ... I always knew there was a mix of people in the MH and CARE systems .. as I was in them enough to see all sorts. Little moments here and there gave me enough wisdom and sense to survive.

So thank you from an ex homie and carer and family member in MH system.

Thank you for caring.

I second @Appleblossom - thank you @GingerWhinger for caring. You made a difference and always will. ❤️

The world is certainly becoming a greedier place and this mentality of "the economy coming before the welfare of the people" is being exhibited in government policy. It will be the downfall of society without doubt and the only way to slow it down is to fight it - for people to speak out/lobby. You have helped slow down this downfall ginger - it wasn't for nothing; it's draining but not without merit, never forget this. Collective apathy is at the core of this downfall. It should never just be up to a few.

Yes, right now whether my way does not seem clear, so it is time for me to take time out, self care and regroup.

I take peer phone calls and shoot the breeze about our shared grief and fear - but also reinforce that we have each other to rely on. There are lawyers amongst us who are doing the heavy lifting on the legal side regarding the breaches to legislation. But that is not where I want to place myself. As a social worker, my skills are probably best tapping into existing community capacity and helping where I can - no easy feat.I don't want to fight organisations that have betrayed us. I want to help build the stuff they have failed to do via organisations of voluntary community based organisations as opposed to the highly paid masses of self-seeking corporations.

I have come down with the flu today and I took my night meds this morning as my prns are not bringing down the ptsd. There is no risk associated with that. It's just an emergency measure.

I spoke to the private hospital and she agreed I should discuss the possibility of a mh admission with my doctor tomorrow if my mood has not improved. Sadly because of the flu, ect is not an option.

I think I might just have to lie around like a miserable restless cow for this week and know that a new chapter of my life may be going to open up in some small way some time in the medium term future.

Sorry your daughter has gone on another downer OTE.

Thank you for your comments @Appleblossom. To continue the way we have been doing things would be flogging a dead horse. We have to be flexible, adjust, if our community is going to prosper; health being the most important form of prosperity. We need to dig deep and recognise our strengths and utilise them for good, regardless how much discrimination we may get from "services" who see us as subhuman.

Hi @NikNik,

Thanks for your response. Rather than try to summarise it might be simpler to point you to the relevant guideline pages for dNet and BlueBoard.

As you can see they don't even mention medications - it's more about fostering mutual care, respect and responsibility rather than focussing on specific dos and don'ts (with the exception of self-harm discussion).

As usual, there is always the caveat that a post will be subject to moderation and removed if considered inappropriate. One of the great things about Sane is that in such a scenario, the user has the option to edit and re-post following mod feedback... a really nice feature.

Given that prescription medications are subject to the ultimate "moderation" of a medical practitioner (i.e. you can't get one until you go to the doc) it's not clear to me what it is that you fear may happen if people talk about it. Sure, it's probably undesirable for members to be offering advice like "I suggest you take 10mg of XYZ to solve your depression" - but really, I've never seen anyone do anything like that on other boards. Trying to anticipate and prevent every possible negative outcome is pretty much the definition of nannying, and it is invariably ineffective and counterproductive anyway... much better to place some trust in your members and clean up the occasional mess if and when it happens. Trying to lock everything down only penalises the vast majority of people who will do the right thing, for the sake of preventing a hypothetical occasional infraction. In any case, no matter what you do to invigilate tight rules, things will invariably slip through (as they accidentally did in this thread) - but you know what? Your moderators responded perfectly by providing an explanation for anyone else reading the thread to avoid any confusion or misinterpretation. In my opinion, that is the way to go where there may be any concerns about medication-related discussions, with post removal as a last resort.

Finally, I'd suggest that fear of talking about issues has historically not been helpful or productive, nor has it ever fostered understanding nor avoided problems. "Sunshine is the best disinfectant" - I find getting things out in the open and having honest, respectful conversations usually leads to the best outcomes.

Thanks @BeeGee That was well put.

The other thing is that my ex used to drag me into things where I felt out of my depth and insist on decisions before I had been able to genuinely make up my mind ... maybe Sane needs to take the med thing slowly to do it justice ... here's hoping ... mods

You also unwittingly gave me a little joy as I remembered my dad on the beach.

He was a boat person and taught me to swim at Bondi ... and was definitely into the salt water and sunshine as disinfectants ...

My dad was a boat person and I learnt to swim at Bondi too - hello Soul Sister 😄 @Appleblossom

I think you are right with the Admin too Appleblossom.... genuine, well thought out change happens gradually overtime, not by feeling hit over the head (not that I think Bee Gee or any of us are doing that - I think it is a very respectful conversation - and more respectful is that Sane is allowing it - some boards would not allow open respectful discussions around their rules - and I admire Sane immensely for allowing this to happen.

My friend who had been forced to resign came over yesterday after handing back his keys and phone. He gave me really good tips on how I can support each of his previous clients as a peer as the service has left them high and dry without a worker. They started telling participants who asked yesterday - that he resigned because he "found a better job". This has really hurt my friend because continuity of care is important to him, trust is important to him, to leave his clients was the hardest part about being bullied out of his position and now management is making out that after all that trust he built with his clients that he left for something "better' without so much a goodbye. They wouldn't even let him say goodbye to his colleagues. All because he was client focussed and didn't fit the groupthink set by management. All because he was a consummate, highly effective professional with exemplary outcomes who highly regarded by the previous management but wouldn't sacrific his integrity and client's welfare and safety for the new regime. Of course he has me to straighten out management lies, explain to clients how much they meant to him and why he didn't get the opportunity to say goodbye and what he thinks might be the best next step for them to take with his sad departure.

I greive that I won't see him in that setting but I am much luckier than most other clients... I will continue to have a relationship with him. I knew him while he was doing his studies and doing other more junior social work positions. He really hit his straps in his recent position. He found exactly where his passion lay. I think the sky is the limit for him now. It's like he's being pushed on to bigger and better things. Of course his wife isn't quite as philosophical about his recent liberation as me . She's a beautiful soul and her worries are completely understandible. Once he has a start date for another job and family security is restored, she will feel more relaxed about the whole thing.

I have finished at Grow because it uses that mental health centre as a venue. I had arranged that centre to be the venue while it was under exemplary management. I have spoken to Grow about the possibility of a starting up a second group for our area. The organiser of the current group, is understanding of the venue difficulties and is very support of a second group. Grow management is making contact directly with the centre management so they can iron out the mh discrimination issues from the new centre management that I had taken on the role of smoothing out and resolving.

I see my clinical social worker today and I think it will help to discuss the ptsd triggers and realistic upheavals in my life in the past week. I've self cared well I think. Slept a lot - my body needed sleep more than anything - especially with having the flu.

Just as my friend is going through a transition, I am going through my own transition.

My one "safe place" is no longer safe. I am having to reach out to peers more and let them reach out to me more. I'm having to reach out to my doctors and therapists more atm. I might even have a maintenance treatment of ECT to keep me from having a breakdown.

Wow @Appleblossom - I was taught to swim at Bondi Beach as well. It's a small world.

I hope you have shaken off the flu @GingerWhingeras that is all you need right now. It's a tough transition for you presently but starting a second Grow group with like minded people may give you that right kind of support you need right now to see you through this dark period. Some good may come out of this turn of events. And although you are not keen for it - I always saw you "helping" to lead a support group. You will find that safe place again, have no doubt. Keep fighting. Thinking of you always. Love you my friend

Did I just read @GingerWhinger that you also learnt to swim at Bondi many moons ago??? The three of us - quite amazing