Ivan Frkovic Dept of Communities – Mental Health THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SECTOR – Thinking outside the square

The Community Mental Health Sector ‘Thinking outside the Square’ 7 November 2009 Ivan Frkovic; Catherine Hewitt; Gaynor Ellis Community Mental Health Branch Department of Communities

3 Roles & Responsibilities in Mental Health 2007 Machinery of Government changes in 2007 realigned responsibility for mental health services in Queensland: Unique arrangement and different to other Australian jurisdictions The 2009 re-alignment of government agencies provides an additional opportunity for mental health within the new Department of Communities, particularly in terms of integrated services responses at the service delivery level and across the new Social Development cluster of agencies.

4 Existing Programs Housing and Support Program (HASP) A cross-departmental initiative involving Queensland Health and the Department of Communities, (Housing and Homelessness Services and Disability Services). The program supports people with a psychiatric disability to transition from Queensland Health acute and extended treatment facilities to sustainable community living in social housing. Project 300 (P300) Supports people with a psychiatric disability to transition from Queensland Health extended treatment facilities to community living. Since the program began, Project 300 has supported over 300 people with a psychiatric disability to transition back into community living.

Resident Support Program Supporting people with a range of disabilities, including psychiatric disability (up to 70%) who reside in boarding houses and hostels with personal care and community linking. Mental Health NGO Funding Program (from Q Health) e.g. community awareness and education, early intervention, family and peer support, information and referral, counselling, independent living and social support, and training and organisational development. Existing Programs (continued)

Transitional Recovery Program (TRP ) This program provides ongoing assessment, treatment and psycho-social rehabilitation to assist people with mental illness to live successfully in the community, thereby reducing the need for hospital re-admission. Resident Recovery Program (RRP) Expands the range of support provided to vulnerable people with a mental illness living in boarding houses or hostels or moving from these facilities to their own homes through: –developing skills to self manage mental and general health care; –improving social interaction and community inclusion; and –assisting with linking to vocational/employment support or other meaningful occupation. New Mental Health Initiatives

Consumer Operated Services (COS) provides short-term support through flexible peer-operated support and accommodation for individuals in crisis situations or in need of respite. In the first funded consumer operated service will commence in the Greater Brisbane Region. Transition from Correctional Facilities (TFCF) funds non-government organisations to provide non-clinical support to people with a mental illness transitioning from correctional facilities to the community. New Mental Health Initiatives (continued)

Social Firms This program supports viable business plans and strategies to create employment options for people living with mental illness who would otherwise have difficulty gaining and maintaining employment. Young People’s Initiative (YPI) will provide safe and supportive community-based care focused on early intervention for young people aged between 15 and 25 years who are experiencing the early signs and symptoms of mental illness. New Mental Health Initiatives (continued)

Recovery Oriented Mentoring Project (ROMP) Two Geographical Areas – Sunshine Coast and Greater Brisbane Multi-Sectoral Collaboration - DSQ, NGOs, QH, People with a lived experience and/or family members. –Sunshine Coast - 26 participants- Brisbane - 38 participants –12 NGO representatives, 3 DSQ, 9 QH- 24 NGO, 1 DSQ, 13 Q Training - five days of non-sequential training around concepts of ‘Recovery’ Mentoring – six months of mentoring where each participant is supported to undertake a self directed learning project and meets monthly with other group members Sector Development and Learning - wide dissemination of learning and materials from individual projects External Evaluation Trainee Facilitator Development and Support New Mental Health Initiatives (continued)

RECOVERY PARADIGM Provides an understanding of how the context in which we understand mental illness impacts and effects the way in which we respond to it.

QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT POSITION PAPER ON RECOVERY 2005 Recovery is the journey toward a new and valued sense of identity, role and purpose outside the parameters of mental illness; and living well despite any limitations resulting from the illness, its treatment, and personal and environmental conditions.

Dominant Paradigm Less/Dominant Paradigm Professional Medical Psychology Social Work Occupational Therapy Nursing Lived Experience Traditional Society Knowledge Personal Knowledge Family and Community Knowledge Subjective Objective Alternatives Recovery Based Practice Knowledge Adapted from Canadian framework of Support 1989 & Glover H, 2001 BODIES OF KNOWLEDGE

Laurie Curtis (1998) Recovery is a process, not a place. It is about recovering what was lost: rights, roles, responsibilities, decisions, potential and support. It is not about symptom elimination, but about what an individual wants, how s/he can get there, and how others can help/support them to get there. What is Recovery?

Laurie Curtis (1998) It is about rekindling hope for a productive present and a rewarding future -and believing that one deserves it. Recovery involves people having a personal vision of the life they want to live, seeing and changing patterns, discovering symptoms can be managed and doing it, finding new ways and reasons, doing more of what works and less of what doesn't. Recovery is about reclaiming the roles of a "healthy" person, rather than a "sick" person. Recovery is about getting there. What is Recovery?

1.Hope – believe that mental illness is not a permanent state; (Human Dignity and Worth) 2.Active Sense of Self – appreciate parts that contribute to my wellness (Potential of individuals – service to humanity) 3.Personal Responsibility & Control – ‘out of control’ to being ‘in control’ (linked to lack of resources, fear, skills, support) ( Human Needs – Social Justice) 4.Discovery – finding oneself, purpose in life outside the illness, participating in activities that contribute to wellness. (Integrity of social work practice) 5.Connectedness – regaining connection with others and social roles, transcending the role of patient (Social Justice, Competence, Awareness of Discrimination) Recovery and Social Work Practice

Thank you Questions?