APTF September eNews 2024
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youth
A Day in the Life of Sushi our Senior Peer Worker
As a Senior Peer Worker at A Path To Follow, every day is a new adventure. My role combines supporting young people, collaborating with my team, and managing the complexities of peer work within community and related services. Many people often ask what my role involves, so I thought I’d give you a glimpse into a typical day in my life as a Senior Peer Worker! Morning Routine and Preparation My day usually kicks off with a strong protein shake—I’m not a coffee person. Before diving into work, I take time for myself by hitting the gym and lifting weights. It helps me feel energised, positive, and ready to tackle the day ahead. After my workout, I spend a few minutes reviewing my calendar and emails and setting my priorities. Today’s agenda includes a team meeting, check-ins with my peers, handling new referrals, and several appointments with young people. It’s a busy day, but I always carve out some downtime between meetings because self-care is crucial in mental health work. Team Meeting and Support The day officially starts with a one-on-one meeting with my manager and the Founding Director of A Path To Follow, Kirstie. We check in with each other and then dive into discussing caseloads. This time is invaluable as we debrief on our current projects, address challenges, and ensure we’re aligned. Knowing where we both stand helps us work harmoniously and ensures our peers within the service feel heard and supported. Mid-morning our team meeting starts where I take on a leadership role, guiding our workforce peers, offering insights from my lived experience, and providing practical support. Today, we’re discussing caseload management and sharing strategies on best supporting our younger peers. These meetings also allow us to connect as a team, learn from each other’s experiences, and build stronger bonds. I wrap up the meeting with a discussion on self-care and debriefing, emphasising the importance of prioritising our mental health. I couldn’t do what I do without our incredible team! Youth Peer Support Group One of my favourite parts of the job is creating safe and inclusive community spaces for young people. Today, my co-worker and I are launching our first youth peer support group! We’ve organised activities to engage the young people in an informal, non-clinical environment, building trust and creating a fun way for them to connect. These sessions are about more than just activities; they’re about establishing relationships in a space where young people feel seen, heard, and supported. Peer Support Work with Young People The afternoon is dedicated to one-on-one sessions with young people. Each session is different – sometimes we’re having dinner at the office; other times, we’re out bowling or playing basketball. Today, I’m working with a young person struggling with anxiety. We discuss grounding techniques, and I share some strategies that helped me through similar challenges. My role isn’t to be a therapist but to walk alongside them, offering hope and practical support through my lived experience. It’s about creating a safe space where young people know they have someone in their corner, no matter what. Wrapping Up and Reflecting As the day winds down, I update my notes, send follow-up emails, and check in with my team members to ensure they feel supported. Pulse check-ins are a key part of my role—they allow me to connect with my workforce peers, offer guidance, and ensure they feel safe and heard. Before logging off, I reflect on the day’s wins and challenges. Working in peer support is both a privilege and a responsibility; each day brings a renewed sense of purpose. I wrap up by touching base with Kirstie about any outstanding tasks and close my laptop, feeling fulfilled and ready to relax with Beau. Being a Senior Peer Worker is about connection, support, and empowerment. It’s a challenging yet incredibly rewarding role that reminds me daily of the power of lived experience and peer support in transforming lives.
Unlocking Confidence: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Are you facing a big challenge and feeling overwhelmed? You might have heard the advice: “Be more confident.” But what does that mean? Confidence is the blend of self-esteem—believing you’re valuable and capable—and optimism about your abilities. It’s about turning those positive thoughts into courageous actions. So, where does confidence come from? 1. Inherent Factors: Your genetics and brain chemistry can influence your baseline confidence. 2. Environmental Influences: How you’re treated and social pressures affect your self-view. 3. Personal Choices: How you respond to challenges, the risks you take, and how you think about setbacks play a significant role. While you can’t fully control all these factors, you can cultivate confidence through practical steps: Tip 1: Quick Confidence Boosts – Visualise your success when starting a tough task. – Listen to powerful music or adopt a strong pose to boost your feelings of power. – Give yourself a motivating pep talk. Tip 2: Embrace a Growth Mindset – Believe your abilities can improve with effort and practice. – See challenges as opportunities to learn rather than threats to your self-worth. – Neuroscience backs this up: practising skills builds stronger brain connections and leads to greater success. Tip 3: Embrace Failure – Understand that failure is a natural part of growth. – Learn from failures and keep trying. Those who persist and adapt are better at handling future setbacks. Remember, confidence is about taking on challenges with a positive mindset and learning from every experience. Give yourself grace, stay motivated, and know that every step, whether it leads to success or failure, brings you closer to growth. Stand tall, embrace the journey, and let your confidence shine!
Sporting Peer Program Celebrates Years of Enriching Young Athletes’ Lives
Our Sporting Peer Program has been making waves and achieving remarkable outcomes for several years now. This initiative, designed to integrate A Path To Follow’s peer support model into sporting and recreational settings, has proven to be a game-changer in enhancing the well-being of young athletes. What Is the Sporting Peer Program? Since its inception, the Sporting Peer Program has focused on enriching the lives of young sportspeople by embedding peer support into their athletic experiences. The program targets three essential areas: 1. Strengthening Community Connection and Mental Wellbeing: The program has successfully fostered a sense of community among young athletes, contributing to their mental health and resilience. By addressing potential challenges before they escalate, the program helps create a supportive environment that promotes mental well-being. 2. Boosting Skill Development and Confidence: Participants in the Sporting Peer Program have benefited from enhanced confidence and leadership skills. Through ongoing peer support and mentorship, young athletes develop crucial abilities that not only improve their performance but also aid in their personal growth and life skills. 3. Establishing a Sustainable Coaching Model: One of the program’s core achievements has been the development and maintenance of a sustainable coaching model. By equipping coaches with the tools and strategies to incorporate peer support into their practices, the program ensures that the benefits are long-lasting and integrated into the sporting culture. How It Works Over the years, the Sporting Peer Program has seamlessly integrated peer support into existing sports and recreational activities. This integration has created a consistent, supportive framework for young athletes, enhancing their overall experience and providing them with valuable resources. The Impact The impact of the Sporting Peer Program has been profound. By focusing on community building, skill development, and created a more resilient and confident generation of athletes. The positive feedback from participants and coaches alike underscores the program’s success and its significance in promoting mental health and well-being. By Kirstie Edwards
What’s the Difference? Mental Health Professions Explained
Where to turn when we require professional mental health support? Many people are becoming more and more aware to attend their GP in the first instance when seeking professional mental health support. This is a great practice we encourage in terms of initially looking after one’s mental wellbeing. I think we can also confidently say that your GP will, most likely, complete a mental health care plan and a referral to a Psychologist. Again, potentially, another very good step. However, it also depends on your GP’s knowledge, experience and connections to the mental health services around them. Without knowledge and connection to the right provider, you might be end up having to source your own Psychologist. We want you to know, while Psychological Therapy may be the correct service type for you, there are also many other alternatives. This post explores the true diverse nature of services available, the differences between them and how to check professional registration and rebate statuses of those you are looking to work with. Each day we will introduce a different mental health support type to you. It is important for you to know each profession so you can make an informed decision about the care of yourself or a loved one. At A Path To Follow, we support communities members to find and engage in specialised mental health support. Please reach out if you require support with finding an appropriate and reputable mental health specialist for your or someone you know. Psychologist A Psychologist is a professional trained in the science of how people think, feel, behave and learn. Psychologists work to assess and provide therapy for people struggling with mental health or psychological issues by helping them to understand how their own brains work and its relationship to their feelings and behaviours. Psychologists are regulated in Australia, meaning that for someone to call themselves a Psychologist they must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and be listed with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. (APHRA) A registered Psychologist will have had 6 years minimum university training and supervised experience. They can be general providers, with sound knowledge across a broad range of mental health challenges and/or illnesses, or they may specialise in a certain area or areas. A Clinical Psychologist will attained further qualifications to enable them to participate in research, teaching supervision, etc. In practical terms their therapy is based in session to session talking, without their role extending to outside session work on behalf or for the client. For more information on the different forms of Psychology, see here. Medicare and Private Health Psychologists offer Medicare rebates. The gap (amount you will pay), will vary from professional to professional. Some may offer Bulk Billing if you hold a Health Care Card or Pension or can prove financial hardship. Private Health: Check your fund, type and level of cover. Psychiatrist A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has undergone additional training to be qualified to practice Psychiatry and must be registered with the Medical Board of Australia via APHRA. They have the capacity to complete thorough Assessments, especially for those more serious and complex mental health challenges. A person may have both a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist as part of their care team. While the Psychiatrist may prescribe and manage medication, the Psychologist may use evidence based talking therapy models to assist the client. Medicare and Private Health Psychiatrists offer Medicare rebates. The gap (amount you will pay), will vary from professional to professional. Some may offer Bulk Billing if you hold a Health Care Card or Pension or can prove financial hardship. Private Health: Check your fund, type and level of cover. Social Worker Social Workers are trained at university in human behaviour, families, social justice and human rights. They can assist people with a range of challenges that may come about for reasons other than mental health challenges. At this stage Social Work is not a registered industry in Australia at the moment. There is a peak body, Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), but membership with this body is voluntary. At the very least we advise people to ask if their Social Worker would be “eligible” to become a member with the AASW; this ensures they meet the same requirements that paying members have to. Social Workers can provide counselling to individuals in addition to advocacy, referrals and the coordination of services for their clients. Medicare and Private Health No, not at this time. Mental Health Social Worker A Mental Health Social Worker is a Social Worker with additional qualifications in mental health that prepares them to deal with issues relating specifically to mental health challenges and/or illness. Mental Health Social Workers generally have experience in assessing and diagnosing people experiencing mental health related stress and other life challenges. Mental Health Social Workers are accredited via AASW. Medicare Yes Private Health No Counsellor A Counsellor works with clients to promote mental health and wellbeing, enhance self-understanding and resolve identified concerns via talking therapy. In Australia you do not have to be registered to practice and there are many different counselling qualifications available. We recommend that you check if your Counsellor
Mental Health System Experiences
I Survived I am not ashamed. I will not sit quietly any longer. I am not ashamed to tell you my story. To tell you of my hospitalisation, where I experienced the very best and very worst of our mental health system, A system plagued with misunderstood children trying to be heard, A system full of passionate nurses working to help these children, A system that has failed so many in the worst way, A system that denies care to some of those who need it most, A system full of doctors who might tell me that my urge to kill myself and the voices in my head are just a product of my drug use and my friends that I “have to pull my socks up” and “just be positive” And that night I lost my faith, I said “I’m no longer believing in a system that tell me that my problems are just fake”. Kyle’s Journey-Part 1 My first brush with Emergency Mental Health That night I was brushed off and told to go home; “sleep it off”. Turned away by the system that is supposed to be there for those in need. Scared, suicidal and exhausted I left the hospital that first night with my mum feeling as though nobody even wanted to understand what was going on in my head. I left the hospital in the most chaotically peaceful state that one could find themselves in. Chaotic in the way that I was scared, sad. I felt betrayed by a system I always knew was not perfect but felt at least could do its job. The peace I found when I left the hospital was not that of serenity and calm, but rather a peacefulness within my brain that I had given up on myself, on my life. I no longer had anything to worry about because soon I would take my own life and this would all be over. My Family; My Life Line The coming days was a series of naps mixed with tantrums, panic attacks and whatever self-harm I could bring to myself without being caught by the watchful and caring eyes of my parents. I was compelled by the voices in my head to take my own life, that by me being gone, so would all the pain and destruction I bring to myself and those around me. That wasn’t my family’s plan though; they pushed me; they saved my life. The compassion and love I received from each of my immediate family members gave me some strength to continue on through my life, which at this point seemed to be a never-ending maze of sadness and sorrow. It wasn’t all up from there though; my time in the system had only just begun… I spent about a week at home before my first home visit from an outreach Psychiatric team (CATT). After a half hour talk with the two incredibly good men working for the outreach program it was decided that I should be taken back into hospital for further assessment and treatment. At this stage they thought I was experiencing early onset psychosis. A somewhat broken system with shining lights I was taken back to the same hospital I had been sent away from just the week before, although this time I was treated far better because of the call ahead by the outreach team. I spent one long night in the emergency room getting bits and pieces of sleep, an incredibly sarcastic smile and “back again?” from the mental health clinician who had turned me away last time. I was made to feel like a burden, like the bed I was taking was unjustified and could be better used somewhere else. And do I agree the bed that night could have been used better for someone else with a physical health problem? Yes, in an ideal world, a supportive and professional mental health system could stand alone and could have prevented my first and second presentation to emergency. We already tried the other options we had; private, public… Too risky, not risky enough… In an ideal world there would also be an emergency room just for mental health issues; in turn allowing the specialists from each hospital to focus on their actual specialist area, creating more opportunity for doctors to genuinely be able to treat an illness and traumatic incidents. Experiences, such as mine, might decrease exponentially. Austin Awesome The next morning I was transported to The Austin’s Children’s Psychiatric Ward where I would spend the next 4 days. As I arrived in the psych ward any cord in my jumpers and pants had to be removed, as well as all my shoelaces. My bag was searched and my Phone was taken. I remember looking at my parents. The look of distress on their faces, especially mum’s, made the situation even scarier. I spent my first night literally trapped inside a panic attack; crying and just wanting to be at home. Despite my troublesome first night and an urgent, pleading phone call to my parents to bring me home, my experience at The Austin, for the most part, was extremely positive. They boasted modern facilities, including a bedroom for each child, a small school and a decent sized outdoor area with tennis courts. There was a great games room with a pool table, massage chairs and gym equipment. As well as these facilities the case workers, nurses and doctors were incredibly good and clearly trained and experienced at dealing with and helping teens with mental health issues. The Austin provided me with an amazing team that, in my short time there, truly helped me and gave me some good strategies for dealing with my mental ill health. Unfortunately, these gems are very rare and can only benefit very few children, for too short a time. After 4 days at the Austin I felt as though I had started my journey to recovery and was looking forward to what