Lived Experience Forum

[Adelaidean]

Hi, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 5 years ago when I turned 30. Now I rarely leave the house, put on weight due to medication, I'm unemployed, recently put on the Disability Support Pension (DSP), and unlikely to go on National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) since my psychiatrist doesn't think wanting to join a mental health art class is enough of a reason to be on NDIS. I don't really have friends since being diagnosed, or a girlfriend/children etc. which is probably my main aim at the moment. 

This website doesn't seem to allow personal messages to people, which is a shame, since private conversations would have been great. Especially since I can't think of anywhere else that provides such a free service for people in similar circumstances. 

Hence, my question: Where do people with mental disorders socialise in person or privately with similar people in Australia; more specifically Adelaide?

At the moment my best thought was using Bumble and listing myself as unemployed, but that hasn't really worked in finding mutually unemployed people yet... that and I ran out of people to swipe 🙂 😛

[NatureLover]

Hi and welcome, @Adelaidean ... 

To answer your question, volunteering worked for me. If you join something you have an interest in, then you make new like-minded friends. Plus your self-esteem grows as you're helping others. 

A lot of people where I volunteer just volunteer for the social aspect. 

An important forum tip is if you type @ and then click on a name in the drop-down box, that person will get a notification and won't miss your reply.
 

[Emergence]

I've been suggested Grow as a peer support group recently (https://grow.org.au), but I had a look and unfortunately they don't have any groups going in Adelaide. It could still be worth contacting them and seeing if there's been any interest from people in starting one there I guess.

Volunteering has helped me feel less isolated and to meet new people in the past, but (of course) it will depend on the people and the culture in the organisation whether it's a good environment for you or not.

[Bow]

Hey @Adelaidean  there are services and organisations out there that hold social activities for folks with mental illnesses. My case manager at community mental health connected me with a local one, they have activities on every day of the year, including Christmas Day. Depending where you are located, there may be an organisation similar. 

[Adelaidean]

Hi @Emergence ,

I have looked at Grow before on the internet and there are groups that seem to meet weekly around Adelaide. I was tempted. I noticed that it said you can just show up to the groups you find without registering. What put me off was that it said that it was a 12 step program of personal growth. Do you have experience with Grow and if so what is it like? Does the 12 step program have an expectant time limit that people leave shortly after they join? Is it a social place to meet people? Do people try out different Grow groups?

[Adelaidean]

@NatureLover I have done volunteer work twice, for months at a time, before I was diagnosed. I suppose it is random how social it can be with people in similar circumstances, age, size of groups etc. One group i joined was all men, and the other group were young people seeking work experience i guess. 

I keep thinking if i'm considering volunteer work, then why not try find part-time work that I'm allowed to do on DSP? But the problems with working are numerous since I developed schizophrenia... not to mention I risk losing my DSP if they review my case that can be done every two years. Under the 20 points I needed to get the DSP, one of the criteria potentially attributing points was my ability to work from memory. Hence I worry that if I work part-time I may lose DSP, if i'm ever reviewed, and i don't think i'm very capable of working in a lot of different types of jobs if any. Especially long-term jobs to retirement. Not sure if they would consider volunteer work that I may do.

However I can't always worry about such things, so I may push myself to do a TAFE cooking class and find a part-time job eventually or do volunteer work. I already have a couple university degrees from when i was younger, but they are pretty much useless to me at the moment. Equally i find study or learning new things more difficult now so I try to avoid study. 

Anyway I was considering volunteer work at meals on wheels, but it is a hard choice to work for free considering my income is basically a pension and I already have multiple hospitality/kitchen related jobs on my resume... it's just those related certificates were from when I was working in London... so again, still considering a TAFE cooking class if I can force myself to do it. I guess in conclusion I'd rather do the TAFE cooking course first, then volunteer at meals on wheels for a resume update... just in case i get kicked off DSP i have something to fall back on. 

Of course I am probably worry to much about it and volunteer work may be the answer? 

luck is the answer 😉 and trying something... but mostly luck 😛

[Emergence]

I don't yet, I was tempted to go along on Wednesday or Thursday this past week but didn't make it. If I make it to one soon I'll report back and let you know how it goes.

I can understand being reluctant to engage with an organisation based on the 12 step program.

[Hunter56]

I hope the it does nothing

[Adelaidean]

@Bow I have a case manager and care worker that i don't really use for anything... they did suggest a few things though. So I joined a Skylight group for 8 ball and games but very few people attended, meanwhile I couldn't join any of their art groups since they were all full and they prioritise NDIS participants. Additionally I tried a walking group from the heart foundation, however every participant was an old age pensioner. I'm not sure I'll find similar aged and people in similar circumstances at community centre groups that kind of feels like finding a needle among multiple haystacks. 

I realise there are groups for people that hear voices for schizophrenics, however I don't think I ever heard voices unfortunately... or fortunately... which ever way you want to look at it 🙃

Can't help but think it's much better if i could hold down a job in order to have easier solutions to problems 😏 

Anyway, so far we have Grow meetings and volunteering suggested... i'm not sure what services and organisations hold social activities for people with mental illnesses... although i read about a Neami National art group thing for people with mental illnesses that i was considering... i'm really bad at art, so i honestly would just use it for social purposes. If i go the art i make will be so bad 🤐😧

[ArraDreaming]

What do you mean where do people socialise? like any other person