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Unpacking the Complexity: A Guide to My Multifaceted Life and Work

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What, why and how I do “A Path To Follow” is complicated apparently (ah, yes it is).  This is largely due to our commitment to the customisation of wellbeing services to meet the needs of our peers. But I do get it, I need community to understand what we do, if we are to truly provide positive impact for those who need it most. This means I need to know how to simplify our key messages. Here is my attempt at a describing what really is a niche, pivotal and unique service in a simple way that also still captures the true essence of our service for those who really need it right now. Here goes… Please let me know your feedback. I am Kirstie; Founder of A Path To Follow (APTF), (Volunteer) Secretary of South Eastern Suicide Prevention Network, Mental Health Service User and Carer, Professional, Mum, Wife and Human Being (the order of which does not reflect my priorities nor preferences). I have over 25 years of professional experience in wellbeing related sectors, inclusive of practice within education, family, community and mental health systems.   I also have well over 25 years of combined mental health lived experience as a mental health service user and/or as a carer to a young person experiencing mental health related challenges.   It is that lived experience that grounds my professional practice, enabling authentic engagement and personalised support of young people and families in their wellbeing journeys.    It is those combined Lived and Professional experiences that saw APTF arrive as an alternative method of care in our “broken” mental health service system; out of the the raw, personal, chaotic, traumatic and grief laden journey within the system arose something so important, so ingrained in my being that I knew professionally young people and families need. Three years old as an official business, (9 years into a venture that began with a small but important volunteer community awareness and fundraising focus) my commitment to young people and family wellbeing has not changed; in fact, it has grown and consolidated my commitment and passion. I will continue to practice within my values and vision according to the missions set to proudly provide this unique model of service, growing our professional and lived experience workforce as we go. Our mental health peer youth, family and sporting programs for are a product of my combined mental health experiences and current best practice evidence, with each embedded in principles of prevention, early intervention and personalised response.  Both Australian and International research backs the role of lived experience working collaboratively alongside professional care to help communities bring about their own best outcomes in wellbeing. Just look at our RCMH recommendations for evidence in support of lived experience and peer support in our trying to save our mental health system. Very rarely is my life simple or my mind uncomplicated. I hope I have untangled the tangles and simplified the complexities enough for those of you needing a light at the end of your tunnel today. Kirstie Descriptions of Youth, Family and Sporting Peer Programs can be found on our website. Further information on our  Model Of Peer Support, can be found here:

What’s the Difference? Mental Health Professions Explained

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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

Marching into 2021 with a Not For Profit Purpose

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Marching into 2021 with a Not For Profit Purpose Join Us APPLICATIONS EXTENDED UNTIL JAN 29TH 2021 After much pondering, mixed with a fair dose of frustration and followed by a renewed determination, I have decided it is time to take APTF into the Not For Profit world? We need like minded and supportive people to join us on our Board of Directors. Is that you? Why? Long story short? Yep, of course, no one really likes the long story. Short story is that I want to be able to throw our very valid and worthy hat in the ring when it comes to government and related funding opportunities. Currently most of the these grants are only open to those organisations who are incorporated.  I cannot continue to devote so much time to securing sponsorships and donations and I choose not to continue to hit up those same type of people who enabled support to our clients this far. Once I began my preparation, I also ran headfirst into another reason; the flip side of a reason I was actually avoiding the NFP status. I have loved the independence and autonomy of having my own business and not having to answer to anyone else. Then I got lonely and then I got real. Not only is it selfish and unrealistic to think I can achieve our vision on my own; it ignores a core strength of my work ethic. I love team and I love leading and participating within them. Through registering as a NFP I get to gather and collaborate with a team of individuals with like purposes and philosophies around mental wellbeing. Interested? We need to fulfil the mandatory roles of President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer. There are also general Director positions available. We welcome ALL people who can fulfil the stated criteria to apply and especially welcome young people, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges or carers thereof. When?  Nominations to be on the Board of Directors closes COB January 29th 2021. First Meeting- Feb 17th (time tbc) Where?  Via Zoom How?  Email your nominations to kirstie@apathtofollow.com.au Advertisement Board Code of Conduct Nomination Form Never miss out on your news, sign up here.  

Mental Health System Experiences

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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

Youth Mental Wellbeing Services

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The following services are designed to assist young people while they are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of mental health challenges. Connect Health & Community Ph: 9575 5333 Based in Bentleigh East and Cheltenham.  Services: Paediatric psychology, youth social work & Integrated Family Support. Top Tip: The Youth Social Work team are quite unique in this geographical area; offering a flexible settings for meeting young people, adept at shared care with other providers, experienced in monitoring all types of risk and provide great pathways for liaison with family members. Their work combines practical supports and therapeutic counselling, dependent on the young person’s needs. A Path To Follow recommended Bayside City Council Youth Services Ph: 9599 4622 Based in Sandringham, Highett & other co-located spaces within Bayside. Services: Counselling & individual support provided for ages 10 to 25yrs and their families who live, work, study or have significant ties in the Bayside City Council. Headspace Bentleigh office: 9076 9400    Elsternwick office: 9076 7500 Offices are based in Moorabbin and Elsternwick. Services: A free or low cost service where young people aged 12-25 can access qualified mental health and well being professionals, including GPs, psychologists, drug and alcohol counsellors, and You can self-refer if you like, but a mental health care plan is required to see one of our mental health professionals. We also have other workers and programs you can access without a mental health care plan employment service providers. Their online resources are also worth checking out and offer a good online or telephone services for those particularly need support outside business hours. https://www.eheadspace.org.au/ Top Tip: There are more services at Headspace then can be garnered well from their website. Although they are limited by the same funding criteria as other government funded services, it worth checking out their groups and services that sit outside those that require a mental health care plan. Kingston Youth Services Ph: 1300 369 436 Services: Youth Work, group programs, Psychology & Counselling. Top Tip: Offer a broad range of one to one and group services for young people. This includes practical supports, one to one counselling and a range of group activities. After an initial assessment, the most appropriate service is offered to the young person. Blokes Psychology Ph: 03 9994 1721 Based in Highett & Scoresby Services: One to one psychological therapy for boys and men. Mental Health Care Plan required. Top Tip: This service was designed by a young male Psychologist who saw the major gap in services customised for males and the low uptake rate of males engaging mental well-being services. It is a designed, developed and implemented service with men and for men (of all ages) A Path To Follow recommended. Melbourne Health Rooms Ph: 9029 4197 Based in Bentleigh Services: One to one psychological therapy for people of all ages, including adolescents. Mental Health Care Plan required. Top Tip: This service has been tried and tested by the Founder of A Path To Follow & other people she has recommended to the service. The specific practitioners seen include Donna Swedosh and Remy Lidner, but the other psychologists there do come recommended also. A Path To Follow recommended. A Path To Follow Mentor Program Ph: 0478 310 145 Based in South Eastern Melbourne Services: One to one peer mentoring partnerships for young people.

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