Authors: Aimee Sinclair
Year: 2017
Event: 2017 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Advocacy,Lived Experience, Recovery,Workforce
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: This presentation will detail what lived experience and peer work can bring to supported decision making, and how we can best draw on the lived experience perspective to enhance mental health and social justice outcomes in regards to decision making.
The value of independent and peer-facilitated decision making cannot be under-stated, and is particularly relevant given the implementation of the NDIS and other self-directed mental health services. Despite this, there is limited information on how to provide peer supported decision making, and the value of such support.
The presentation will draw on the experiences of the presenter providing independent peer supported decision making within the Individualised Community Living Scheme (ICLS) in Western Australia, the findings from the IMHA (Vic) report on supported decision making from consumer perspective, and consumer literature more broadly.
The presentation will outline what some of the main barriers and enablers are for decision making from a consumer perspective. It will examine how peer supported decision making is different from other forms of advocacy, and how both peer workers and allies can draw on this body of knowledge to improve our practices around supporting decision making.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: Audience members will gain an understanding of some of the barriers and enablers to decision making from a consumer perspective, and how best these barriers can be overcome through the provision of independent, peer supported decision making. Audience members will be provided with some of the vital ingredients to peer decision making support.
Learning Objective 2: Given the move towards self-directed supports, including the implementation of the NDIS, it is vital the mental health sector has a solid understanding of the value of independent peer supported decision making and what this looks like in practice.
References
Van der Pluym, D. (2016) Supported Decision Making under the Mental Health Act 2014: What Consumers Want. Victoria: IMHA/Victoria Legal Aid.
Smith, P. (2015) Evaluation of the Individualised Community Living Scheme. Perth: ThirdForce Consulting Services.
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