Can I help? Yes, but let’s make it smart!
On 10th October 2023, the world came together to mark World Mental Health Day. An opportunity to raise awareness and conversation around the topic of mental health. For us, at Daybreak, this is key area of focus for us - nearly 40% of our referrals cite the Mental Health of adults being a key consideration and we often see the Mental Health of children and young people being included in referrals.
Through Family Group Conferencing, we work with people to engage with their wider support network and plan how they can provide practical and emotional support. You can explore how this can support in the area of Mental Health through two case studies - one involving a mother whose children were referred to us to help establish support in regard to Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder or EUPD, and one were both parents were experiencing severe challenges with their Mental Health – and the mother being admitted to the hospital for additional support.
When we work with families, we know that a wide support network can help people stay well and manage their mental health. Often people will offer support, but that offer might not be detailed enough to have the desired impact. Therefore, we often say that it can be useful to speak to those in your support network to devise smart plans of action.
If someone is going to help you or you offer help to someone, work together to determine:
S – is the offer specific and do you both understand what is expected
M – how often will they be able to offer this support
A – can the person offering actually meet what is expected
R – is it realistic that this support can be delivered and is going to help
T – when is this support going to be offered, and when will you agree any changes needed
Communicating well together and devising detailed plans can really help someone in a challenging situation understand how to access the support that they need.
Please know that that help is available should you or someone you know need it.
🧑⚕️ Call NHS 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk
🤳 Call Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
📱 Text SHOUT on 85258 for an immediate call back or visit www.giveusashout.org
🌐 Visit Papyrus at www.papyrus-uk.org for young people
In an emergency always call 999