
Authors: Sarah Sutton, Patricia Sutton
Year: 2017
Event: 2017 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Advocacy,Lived Experience, Recovery,Change, Innovation, Reform
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: Numerous national reports of mental health have demonstrated again and again the significant unmet needs of the same group - those with severe mental illness and psychosocial disabilities. There has been much documentation calling urgently for reform in this area and a better system of care than is currently available – and yet despite this, so many remain unsupported in the community, with families often bearing an unsustainable burden. The NDIS is the greatest social reform of our time which is giving hope to families. We need urgently to embrace the change that this unique opportunity represents for this cohort of the population to enable them to at last receive the support they so desperately need.
A mother and sister of 2 people with psychosocial disabilities will demonstrate how service providers and families can work together in an integrated way to break down structural and systemic barriers which have historically lead to so many not receiving adequate supports, have left many marginalised in the community and have also led to their appalling reduced life expectancy.
The presentation will demonstrate a truly person-centred, collaborative and integrated case management approach which looks at whole of life needs of these individuals.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: People who attend the presentation will learn about ways of strengthening individual and family capacity to provide an integrated approach to case management.
Learning Objective 2: It is vital that families are appropriately included in assessment processes to enable people with psychosocial disabilities to become participants of the NDIS and take the burden of care away from mental health services.
References
www.vicserv.org.au Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) Publications: New Paradigm, Summer 2014 edition: Psychosocial Disability: the urgent need for reform in assessment and care, authors Margaret Springgay and Pat Sutton.
www.humanrights.gov.au/twentystories/index.html A series of videos produced by the Disability Discrimination Commission featuring personal stories, including “A Call for Support” by Sutton family.
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