useful links for the week ahead - Carers and Mental Health
In Early Intervention in Psychosis Teams internationally there are five standards of care,otherwise known as The Newcastle Declaration, which in the beginning was decided upon by the World Health Authority, Rethink and Iris, one of these is Family Engagement and Support so this weeks links will be around that basis:
A lot of people i work with in Early Intervention in Psychosis do not identify themselves as 'carers' they are mum, dad, brother, sister, supporter, friend, aunt, uncle cousin, grandparents etc . i am very aware that often the language we use in social care can be confusing for the people we work with. When i ask the families i work with they say Carer often conjures up ideas of someone who is doing round the clock 24 hours personal care, something that happens in older people or physically disabled people rather than people with mental health issues. it was really bought home to me one day when i offered someones mum a Carers Assessment and she looked very worried,so i asked if she knew what a Carers Assessment was, she replied 'no but i guess its a test to check whether you think i am good enough at looking after my daughter' which made my heart sink because i felt that there must be others out there who interpret it in a similar way.Now itry and not use the word Carers Assessment at first i ask if they would like the chance to have a discussion about what support they give their loved one and if there is anything we can do as a team to help them in what they do and to find out the impact that it is having on them and to advise them of where they can get support from in their own right.
so the useful links for this week ahead will be about carers.
Carers and Confidentiality - Law and Good Practice by Graham Machin
A paper presented to the Carers’ Council Conference on “Carers and
Confidentiality in Mental Health” held at Edwinstowe on 23rd April 2004
The Needs and Experiences of Parents of Young People with Mental Health Difficulties
a research report by the Trust for the Study of Adolescence
A Siblings Introduction to Mental Illness by Rethink
This booklet provides information and advice
specifically tailored to siblings affected by mental illness, from first
experiences to later concerns, and shares experiences that many
siblings have in common.
Valuing Carers: The NIMHE Mental Health Carers Charter
a guide for professionals working with those who provide help and support to those with mental health issues
Coping When Someone In Your Family Has Psychosis
a very user friendly guide from the Early Psychosis Intervention Programme in British Columbia,lots of good practical help.
mental health care
up to date information about psychosis for family and friends
a checklist for carers
a leaflet for carers to take to appointments with professionals with a list of questions they may want to ask
Include Project by The Childrens Society
supporting children with parents with a mental illness
Mental Health Support
a website with a forum and information for young carers
Adult Quality of Life Questionnaire
a useful booklet to use with a Carers Assesment to help get a picture of someones quality of life
Hope some of that helps, have a nice week