Including carers in our mental health support

20 Sep 2018

20 September 2018

The pilot, which started in August 2018, offers carers a one-on-one session with an allied health professional prior to the patient’s discharge.

St John of God Burwood Hospital Acting Chief Executive Officer Cindy Foot said this was designed to help include carers in the patient’s recovery.

“The one-on-one session provides carers with psychoeducation on mental illness, recovery and to provide them with the information they need to support the patient’s discharge from hospital and help to reduce the risks of relapse,” she said.

“This pilot has started in response to feedback we received from patients and carers to help improve our care, particularly at the time when patients are preparing to return home.”

Cindy said providing support and education to carers was important to help them prepare for the patient’s return home, where they are often exposed to situations and events that may increase their risk of relapse.

“This education we provide includes general information about mental health but focuses primarily on recovery and relapse prevention to provide carers with the tools they need to support patients,” she said.

“We want our patients to have the best possible support network around them when they leave hospital.”

The pilot has started on the Alcohol and other Drug Unit and will be reviewed in the coming months to determine how we will rolled the program out across the entire hospital.