Support Service for Families of Mental Health Clients North Lee Mental Health Service Support Service for Families of Mental Health Clients North Lee Mental Health Service Orla Bushnell A/CNS Family Services NLMHS Family Therapist in training

 Distress  Confusion  Anxiety around coping  Anger  Fear of the future/unknown  Gaps in knowledge/information Literature Review suggests that families experience:

Families as an important source of information ‘If you want to know me come and live with me’. Family members can add depth and context to the presenting problem of a client. Not only by what they communicate to us as mental health professionals but by how they communicate it. I suggest family dynamics can be material in a clients presentation either acting as a trigger or as a consequence to expressed behaviours. Family members can add depth and context to the presenting problem of a client. Not only by what they communicate to us as mental health professionals but by how they communicate it. I suggest family dynamics can be material in a clients presentation either acting as a trigger or as a consequence to expressed behaviours.

National and International Policy  Mental Health Commission (2005) states families indicate that they require support at every stage of an individual’s illness and through the recovery process.  ‘Quality Framework: Mental Health Services in Ireland’ (2007) suggest that families, parents and carers should be empowered as team members receiving information, advice and support.  World Health Organisation ‘Promoting Mental Health’ (2005) states interventions that involve only the service user, such as training in social skills are unlikely to change long-term behaviour unless family work is aligned to support a change.  ‘Vision for Change’ (2006) echoes this sentiment and highlights the need for a framework of care that meets the needs of services users and their families.

Tier Two: Name: Family Support Group Target: Families referred from FOM or directly from members of MDT / HBCT / OPD Status: Active Focus: Recovery orientated support group – content is participant driven and guided within the parameters of support through discussion and shared experiences. Tier One: Name: Family Orientation Meeting. (FOM) Target: Adult families of clients admitted to the Unit Focus: A family’s experience of crisis Status: ActiveBased on Carlow/Kilkenny model. Phone contact Referral option Family Discharge Meeting Target: Family and client. Focus: support requirements, concordance & relapse prevention Status: Pilot Family Support Programme Flowchart Family Support Programme Flowchart (Part 1) Name: Family Support Meetings Target: Families who require individual support due to specific circumstances. Status: Active Focus: Supporting families going through a crisis period due to a members mental health difficulties.. Referred from FOM / MDT / HBCT / OPD

Tier Three: Name: Individual Family Therapy Sessions Target: Families/Couples who require and are willing to engage in therapy. Status: Active. Focus: Systemic Family/Couple Therapy. Referrals from the MDT. Facilitated by: Family Therapist in training. Retrospective supervision applicable. Tier Two: Name: Family Support GroupName: Family Support Meetings Tier Three: Name: Family Intervention Meetings Target: Families in crisis referred from MDT / HBCT Sessions: 5 Family Intervention Meetings after initial assessment meeting (6 in total) Focus on: family communication whilst promoting social functioning, emotional support, familial education and problem solving. Status: Active referral options Family Support Programme Flowchart Family Support Programme Flowchart (cont.)