One of the realities I learned really early on in my time as a Mental Health Practitioner was the skill of searching for resources! Groups, one-on-one interventions, even independent living skill building opportunities look different for every client we serve. While some clients are very receptive to the material we have on-hand (such as the Enhanced Illness Management and Recovery Curriculum), other clients need/want the information in a different format. I’ve also learned that it is impossible to stay up-to-date on all of the conditions we see in our facilities. What do we do when we need more? Below are some helpful suggestions:
Case Consultation
Bring your questions to a meeting! All of us participate in some form of meeting with colleagues regularly. The great thing about working in a team is the opportunity to learn and grow with each other! Every member of the team comes with different experiences and different knowledge. Team members may have some great suggestions, resources, or training opportunities.
Supervision
Another great opportunity all of us have is a supervisory relationship. While this relationship may often be administrative in-nature, these relationships can also include connection to resources, tools, etc that help you best meet the needs of your clients! I challenge all employees of Thrive to be open to expanding these supervisory relationships to include more openness and support. Supervisors: When is the last time you called an employee just to check in? How do you respond when an employee reaches out with a client care question? Does it have the same weight as it would if it was an administrative question? Supervisees: When was the last time you reached out to your supervisor to let them know you have a challenging case? What barriers (if any) are you facing now when you need support with a challenging case? Have you talked about these barriers with your supervisor?
Local and Online Resources
Lastly, I’ll leave some ideas for local and online resources in your area to address common client care issues. This is by no means an exhaustive list.
Local Resources
Local NAMI Chapter
County Social Services
Mental Health Clinics
Psychiatric Hospitals/Medical Facilities
Community Centers
Community Partners