KNOWLEDGE, STIGMA, ADVOCACY & CARING

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KNOWLEDGE, STIGMA, ADVOCACY & CARING STUDENT LEARNING IN THE WILLARD SUITCASE EXHIBIT Joyce Ott DNP, RN Madelyn Gibson- Antonich BSN, MPM Educational Objectives 1) Describe

2) Describe student perception of learning during the WSE and discuss the impact of student reflection paper themes of knowledge, stigma, advocacy and caring.

1 KNOWLEDGE, STIGMA, ADVOCACY & CARING STUDENT LEARNING IN THE WILLARD SUITCASE EXHIBIT Joyce Ott DNP, RN Madelyn Gibson- Antonich BSN, MPM Educational Objectives 1) Describe the academic partnership between Duquesne University School of Nursing and Mental Health America to plan the Willard Suitcase Exhibit (WSE) in Pittsburgh. 2) Describe student perception of learning during the WSE and discuss the impact of student reflection paper themes of knowledge, stigma, advocacy and caring. 3) Describe the Willard Suitcase Exhibit as a Service Learning experience for nursing students to understand mental health theory and concepts. This speaker has no conflict of interest to disclose. Ott 1

2 Academic Partnership Partnership with Mental Health America (MHA) Planning of The Willard Suitcase Exhibit Student Roles as Docents and Greeters Service Learning A method under which students learn and develop through thoughtfully organized service conducted in & meets the needs of a community coordinated with an institution of higher education and with the community helps foster civic responsibility, is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of students enrolled and structured time for students to reflect on the experience. Campus Compact (2003) Willard State Hospital Closed in 1995 after 126 years of operation Known as Willard Psychiatric Center Overlooks Seneca Lake in Upstate New York Over 400 suitcases in hospital attic 10 yrs. research 10 suitcases were examined Contents compared to written record The lives they left behind: Suitcases from a state hospital attic. Darby Penney & Peter Stastny Ott 2

Student Preparation www.suitcaseexhibit.

html Willard Suitcase Exhibit Photos by Matthew Murray

Photography Individual id Kiosks Pti Patient tsuitcases

3 Student Preparation Willard Suitcase Exhibit Photos by Matthew Murray Entrance Willard Suitcase Exhibit Matthew Murray Photography Individual id Kiosks Pti Patient tsuitcases Theresa, Lawrence, Roderigo,Margaret, Herman, Frank, Ethel, Dmytro, Madeline & Irma Create your own Suitcase Ott 3

community Student Learning through Reflection Student Reflection and Learning Reflection Papers Clinical Conference

4 Behavioral Health Experience Partnered with Mental Health America Staff and Volunteers Two days per week for one month Roles as greeters and docents Experience beyond the assignment Development of ownership and advocacy Connections with the community Student Learning through Reflection Student Reflection and Learning Reflection Papers Clinical Conference Student Suitcase Art Interactions with Visitors Final Reflection Paper Reflection Themes Knowledge, Stigma, Advocacy and Caring Ott 4

5 Knowledge Among those who visited the exhibit, I was able to meet two unique individuals who happened to live with mental illness and understand their way of living. From speaking to these women, I attained a knowledge that could not be taught from a book. Knowledge I believe that it is most important for the confused to be educated, & that only then will people with mental illness by fully accepted as individuals rather than as illnesses. Therefore, through the power of knowledge I hope that we can come together to develop a better understanding to work past the barriers. Knowledge I had many rich learning experiences during my time at the Willard Suitcase Exhibit. Af hi i I f l After this experience I feel more knowledgeable of the history of psychiatric care & more sensitive towards the needs of the mentally ill. Ott 5

6 Stigma I will always take what I learned from this experience and continue to learn and build upon what I have learned so that they too many change their preconceived notions related to mental illness so that we as a community will never return to a time in which people are ostracized like the patients at Willard. It is definitely true: We have to look to out past in order to learn for the future. Stigma..I realized that the reason there is a stigma placed on individuals with mental illness is perhaps because people do not fully understand what they do not fully experience. Stigma I think this experience really made me more aware of the number of people suffering from mental illnesses and the unfortunate reality that there is still a stigma related to these types of issues. Ott 6

7 Advocacy Taking a look at how wrong I was about this population, I want to be one person that can spread awareness of the population s misconstrued stigma about those with mental illness & act as an advocate whenever possible something they need the most. Advocacy As nursing students and as future nurses, we must uphold these practices, utilize therapeutic communication, and be advocates for our mentally ill patients. Advocacy It gave us the opportunity to take part in an amazing project, we were able to act as advocates for those with mental illnesses and raise the awareness of how much work still needs to be put into this growing field of healthcare. Ott 7

8 Caring I brought nothing because I didn t know I was going. This statement hold such significance that it provoked an empathic response from the person reading it. I felt compelled to ponder the experience that a person could endure and the feelings what were behind those words unimaginable. Caring I may never fully know how it feels to have a mental illness, but after this experience, I think I am more able to be sympathetic to the many hardships they have to endure. Caring When I participated in a conversation with a consumer & helped her through a predicament that she was facing in response to her daily struggles with anxiety by implementing therapeutic communication, it reaffirmed why I want to become a nurse: to make a lasting, positive impact on those in need. Ott 8

9 References Campus Contact (2003). Brown University, Providence, R.I. Penney,D. & Stastny,P.( 2008)The lives they left behind : Suitcases from a state hospital attic. Bellevue Literary Press, New York, New York. The speaker has no conflicts of interest to disclose Ott 9

Sarah Black Advocacy Plan Outline 1. Briefly, describe the individual or group that is/are the focus of your advocacy and the

Sarah Black Advocacy Plan Outline 1. Briefly, describe the individual or group that is/are the focus of your advocacy and the 1. Briefly, describe the individual or group that is/are the focus of your advocacy and the plan you have developed for the advocacy effort. At my site placement, I have a significant population of low-functioning