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Marvelous Mental Health

Marvelous Mental Health. Farnham Street Neighbourhood Learning Centre. Presented by Cathy Connop Centre Manager. History. My background as a Psychiatric Nurse. Starting at Farnham St (FSNLC) in 1989 – close to Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital.

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Marvelous Mental Health

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  1. Marvelous Mental Health Farnham Street Neighbourhood Learning Centre Presented by Cathy Connop Centre Manager

  2. History • My background as a Psychiatric Nurse. • Starting at Farnham St (FSNLC) in 1989 – close to Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital. • 1993 – 1998. De-institutionalisation process of the Mental Health system.

  3. Challenges • 1993 - Number of Mental Health clients increased at FSNLC . • Staff and other clients found it difficult to deal with Mental Health clients. • Stigma and lack of understanding connected with Mental Health issues. • Mental Health clients often not taking their medication, displaying strange behaviour

  4. Solutions • Approached Manager of Macaulay CSA for assistance. • Partnership with Macaulay CSA developed. • Staff trained to deal with Mental Health clients. • Case workers would arrange appointment times for MH clients and stay if required.

  5. Solutions (cont.d) • Joint membership of MCSA and FSNLC committees. • First special needs cooking class started as a joint project with FSNLC and MCSA clients. • FSNLC supporting MCSA’s Day Program application. • MCSA had large premises with a drop-in centre and own programs.

  6. Initial Programs • Several shared FSNLC/MCSA programs. • Healthy Cooking Classes • Vietnamese Men’s Group • English, Literacy and Computer classes. • Men's cooking and gardening program started in 2003. • Developed the Community Garden.

  7. Changes • MCSA and Boomerang Club merged with Doutta Galla CHS. • DGCHS had a separate Mental Health and Complex Needs program. • Increased number of supported accommodation units in the community. • Very stable period, system working well.

  8. Changes (cont.) • Collaborative Recovery Model introduced. • Designed to assist Mental health workers work with clients living with illness. • DGCHS Mental Health & Complex Needs Program and Boomerang Club closed which put increased pressure on organisations such as Neighbourhood Houses to offer more programs.

  9. Present Time • DGCHS merged with Yarra and Western Region CHS to become Cohealth. • Partnership developed with Norfolk Terrace Community Care Unit. • Joint Community Garden Project based on FS model established. • Programs running at FSNLC • Boomerang Network

  10. Present Time • Singing Group • Art and Craft class • Flourish (Well-being Group) • Cohealth Client Working Group • English and Literacy Program • Computer Training Program • Healthy Cooking Program • Gentle Exercise class

  11. Mental Health System INW • Admission to Royal Melbourne Hospital Psych Unit if very unwell. • Upon discharge - Waratah MHS with a community care plan; Psychiatrist, medication • Clients allocated a case worker, referred to community programs, eg FSNLC. • Discharged into Arion or Norfolk Terrace if not able to live independently.

  12. Case studies:Norfolk Terrace Gardening Project

  13. Case studies:Boomerang Network

  14. Case studies: Special Needs Cooking classes

  15. Points to Ponder • What experience have you or your organisation had with MH clients? • Do you know the MH service providers in your area/do you have any partnerships? • Do you have any mental health specific programs? • Do you know the mental health system in your area?

  16. Contact Us We are located at Farnham Street Neighbourhood Learning Centre 28 Farnham Street Flemington Ph# 9376 9088 Email: cathy@fsnlc.net Website: www.fsnlc.net facebook.com/farnham.street Marvellous Mental Health Program sponsored by the R.E. Ross Trust.

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