Mental Health Support
Mental health support, also known as Psychosocial Recovery Coach (PRC) can be complicated to understand. I like to keep it simple, below are some topics that will explain the different structures of how mental health support may help you, on your recovery journey. I am a qualified Cert IV Mental Health Peer Worker and have actual lived -in experience; I have completed my recovery journey; you can read about that on the “About Me” page if you wish. Using the words Mental Health Support keeps things simple, the next time you are with a friend try using these sentences; “My Psychosocial Recovery Coach is coming at 10am today.” Watch their reaction and wait for the questions to begin. Now try this sentence. “My mental health support worker is coming at 10am today.” This will cause a different reaction, as the other person has a clear understanding of who is coming and why.
Terminology within the mental health sector.
Recovery;
This word can be misleading, as most people will read it as a cure or, that I am fixed, or that I will never feel like that again. This is not true! The word recovery is used to explain how you have overcome issues and are capable of overcoming issues in the future.
If you think of it as breaking a bone in your body. You get it repaired at the hospital and have on-going workshops (physiotherapy) to learn how to keep it healthy and use it. It’s the same with mental health, you learn how to live with it to have a full, and meaningful life that works for you. However just like a broken bone if you knock it or the weather is cold the bone will ache and cause you pain. This is the same with mental health, you are never truly recovered but you can live with it and takes steps to control the issues.
Recovery Journey;
It is a journey and it is a tough one. Your recovery journey is individual to you and no other recovery journey will be the same as yours.
Well-being;
This is your overall health, physical and mental.
Holistic;
This is the bigger picture of your well-being and what aspects of it have an influence on your life choices.
Lived-in Experience;
This means that a person has lived with and are living with mental health issues.
How can Mental Health Support help me?
Being a qualified Mental Health Peer worker and using my lived-in experience, I understand the complications of a recovery journey. The first thing to ask yourself is;
“Am I ready to start my recovery journey?”
There are three major platforms that you will assist you in your journey. Acknowledgement; Acceptance and Responsibility.
Not everyone is ready to embrace a recovery journey and that is OK, however when you are ready that is when a Mental Health Peer Worker can be so important to help you on your recovery journey. Working alongside your medical practitioner ie doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, occupational therapist. We can develop your recovery journey and I will be there with you making sure you receive the entailments that you deserve. There will times when things become too much but that is all part of the journey. This time you are not alone because I have been there, and understand the difficult issues and barries that you will have to overcome. If you think you are ready, then let’s get started!
How can my NDIS plan fund this?
The funding would come from your Capacity Building Budget.There are a few options that exist to help you within this budget PRC, Psychosocial Recovery Coach and LTP, Life Transition Planning.
What is PRC?
PRC has support coordination is within the role, but it is for your well-being. Arranging support workers that understand your situation and providing training to those who require it, accessing community programs that may benefit you. Checking that you are receiving the funding from QLD gov. that you are entitled to. This role is more in-depth than LTP and looks at your present life choices and how to navigate your future life choices that best works for you. Learning from the past you can learn to make a life that is best for you in the future. Within, PRC are we focusing on your mental health, discovering your triggers and barriers and how to overcome, or the best way for you to manage them. This is your recovery journey and PRC support is here to discover your journey with you.
What is LTP?
Life Transition Planning is peer support and individual skill development. It is like PRC but focusing on your journey of transition and developing or highlighting your social skills. Looking at your life choices and understanding how they affect your life. Building goals that you wish to achieve and working towards those goals.
This support item, which includes mentoring, peer support and individual skill development is designed to establish assistance within the participants home and community to develop life skills. This can be found under the capacity building funding, under Social and Community Participation. (CB Social Community Civic)
If you choose to use this support, then we shall be focusing on mental health and the overall well-being of you, your situation, and your journey forward. Everyone has their own journey, so each support is different. The focus is on you and developing your life, so it works better for you. This may include organising your daily routine or understanding budgeting. Exploring yourself to obtain self-confidence and self- worth. Finding ways to be part of the community that works for you.
Transitioning is hard and can be scary on your own. Transitioning means the process of changing from one state or condition to another and that period of change. This is for everyone who is adjusting to a new way of living due to a physical or mental issue. Transgender issues can raise unique barriers to a person, but together we can develop and learn a skill set to achieve a goal that works for you.