MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Let's Talk About It! (October 2024)

[Oaktree]

@RachSANECEO 

I guess some of the 1,400,000 visitors could be people deciding whether or not they want to join. 

Also some of the numbers represent carers and I haven’t calculated them in my numbers so that’s even more people. It’s staggering when you really think about it. I really hope you find a way to get brochures out there at no cost to Sane

[MJG017]

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@Oaktree wrote:

I already have someone at Sane looking over my application and they will make suggestions on improvements for me. That is so helpful like you wouldn’t believe 

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@Oaktree  Sounds like you couldn't be in better hands then.  Roll on 2025!

[MJG017]

@Oaktree  I think facebook just dominates these days over forums like this.  Which is sad, because there's a reason forums are still around... they're just better.  Ignoring a lot of the issues with facebook in general, posts just get so quickly buried in facebook feeds I just don't think its very practical for large and multiple discussions.

I've tried a few facebook groups over the past couple of years, they've been good, but I much prefer these old school forums.  Plus I got permanently banned on one of the FB groups! 😁  Which shows you the sort of people who can run these groups.

[Sidney_]

I left social media about a month ago and I’m so much calmer. I can’t see me going back.. It was driving my online behaviour and spending. Life is good without it.

[Oaktree]

@Sidney_ 

Welcome to the forums.

I would get rid of social media but that is the way I stay connected to friends in America 

[rav3n]

such a great question to start of with @Ru-bee !!

What is the role of peer support and connection in terms of your mental health recovery?

Peer support meant so much to me, especially because I was brought up feeling really invalidated by both my family and friends, I consistently felt unseen, unheard and like an outsider. I spent most of my childhood and adolescence feeling so lonely, like nobody would ever understand me and that there was something wrong with me. Connecting with others, especially PoC with similar lived experiences, connecting with my new GP and my psychologists made such a difference. After spending time being heard and validated by them, and learning from their experiences too, I finally felt like there was space for me in this world and that I do belong. My courage to even start mental health recovery journey was thanks to connections I made with people who had similar experiences as me, they gave me hope that things can and will get better, made me feel less lonely and most importantly, made me feel like I wasn't 'abnormal' for the feelings and thoughts I've had. Recently this forum has also been another one of those peer support spaces where I've been learning soooo much more and hearing everyone's journeys and the strength that they've shown just keeps inspiring me 💗

[Determined]

Thanks @Shaz51  for the tag...

Q. What is the role of peer support and connection in terms of your mental health recovery?

For those I have not met yet, I am a carer for a wife who lives with BPD and severe depression and anxiety.

I found Sane forums when researching information on ECT, and started engaging in the then carer forums. This connection with others was crucial in a somewhat dark season in the life of my family.

I felt completely isolated, I had a significant burnout and was incapable of working, it was invaluable to be able to come here and share our journey with people who understood. I used to start my posts with "I love my wife, this is about the illness not the person" but pretty soon worked out that was not necessary as everyone got that already. 

I have more recently engaged with face to face (Facilitated on line zoom peer support program) that was arranged by a social worker when my father in law was transitioning to age care (I was dragged on that journey as an unwilling participant, I wanted Dad at home with us). again in an uncertain time of change this was invaluable. 

Living with mental illness and supporting someone with mental illness (or any caring role to be fair) is isolating and that has a negative impact on health. One can not put a value on platforms like this. I could not have engaged in a face to face program where people knew who I was and been totally honest. 
That has been my experience anyway. 

[Judi9877]

Hello @tyme @Ru-bee @rav3n @Shaz51 @Lauz and all forumites here. Thanks for starting up this new discussion thread @tyme @Ru-bee .

In response to the question What is the role of peer support and connection in terms of your mental health recovery? 

In my journey with my mental health diagnosis and journey, peer support has been really helpful as I’ve been able to speak to people who have experienced mental illness and can relate to what I’ve been through. This has been done via attending PARCS in Victoria as well as joining the SANE forums and being able to learn from others to help me to get better and pass my knowledge onto others. I found the peer workers in hospital to be okay but not the best as they didn’t have the correct training to assist me and actually gave me some incorrect advice which I learnt after confiding in my psychologist at the time. As for the PARCS peer workers, this is relatively new in the facility I attended in 2023 with the worker trying to push her own agenda of what they believed should help me (art therapy) which resulted in me having to file a formal complaint against them for their behaviour and lack of relevant training.

I believe as a peer worker in mental health, the best peer workers are those who listen to the client and offer advice that is relevant yet tailored to the clients individual needs and requirements- person centred care. This means supporting the client to help them achieve their goals and being there to listen to them and work through their issues or concerns without making the situation all about the peer worker. Often talking to a peer worker can be more beneficial than speaking to a medical staff member as they may have strategies or ideas that are not just medication related such as having a cup of tea or writing things down instead of simply going for the often used medication track.

Having peer support in the SANE forums has been a great experience for me in my recovery journey as I have found connections with others experiencing mental health issues and I have gained some great friendships amongst the community. I like being able to check in on the forums and see what others are up to and being able to offer advice and support as a Community Guide whilst also having the opportunity to ask for help myself from others when I haven’t been my best mentally. There have been times when I have felt lost, confused, anxious, upset, alone or isolated and have been able to post about the topic/issue on the forums and have received some very helpful advice and support which has made me realise that I am not alone and that people do care about me which I really value, especially when things have been difficult and hard to deal with. The SANE forum members give me a sense of connection and belonging and purpose, all of which are very important to me as I don’t have many friends outside the forum community.

Being part of the SANE forum community has also helped me in my studies in mental health at TAFE - soon to be hopefully completed by the end of 2025- as I’ve learnt much more about different mental health conditions and their related experiences from others experiencing them besides the usual academic and textbook cases the teachers often present to me in class. This knowledge has meant that I’m better able to help others when I do eventually become a mental health support worker.

Judi9877☺️

[Shaz51]

Hello and welcome @Bafflelaffle @Squibblybits @VickieLynn @SeaLion @Daisy76 @MySon63 @CaringSister22 @Ruby66 @Ron64 @Stuck13 @AstarionBG3 @Shadwell1978 @DrWho @hamster12 

@Wendy26 , @Running-Mum , @Daisyboo , @HealingJourney @Megan68 , @Healandlove , @Krishna , @Shasan , @Ru-bee , @RachSANECEO , @Tilz , @Blackcloud , @Blackbird11 , @ENKELI @Jynx , @RiverSeal , @Paperdaisy , @rav3n , @Tootsy , @Pem 

What is the role of peer support and connection in terms of your mental health recovery? 

[Andarna]

@Oaktree 

I understand about the hesitation with withdrawal from social media as it can had benefits and demands. Personally I find that the solace I get from stepping away, is actually usually me isolating myself from my friend and losing that connection, so it is a balancing act. I need to notice the type of behaviours I'm doing positively, possibly accidentally doing instead or if I'm avoiding.

I may be aware of this but I'm not master, I'm trying every day... That's why I keep trying to reconnect on these forums to avoid isolating myself, as I get overwhelmed messaging my friends and going out.