A survey for people with a lived experience of mental illness (consumers) to inform the development of the draft Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW This survey is for people with a lived experience (consumers) to contribute to the development of the draft Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW. Consultations are being held by local community organisations and groups throughout NSW during November 2013. If you would prefer not to attend a consultation or are unable to get to a local group then this survey is another way you can participate in the development of the draft Strategic Plan. This survey is designed so that you can fill it out by yourself or with support if you require it. Please contact your local consumer group or Esther Pavel-Wood on 02 9332 0200 or email EPavel-Wood@nswcag.org.au if you require assistance. If you decide to take up this opportunity and hold a consultation on the draft Strageic Plan, please make sure all feedback and recommendations are sent in by 1 December 2013. How to complete this survey The areas of focus in this survey include eight journeys which highlight mental health situations and needs across our lives. These journeys are designed to get you thinking about people - not about systems, services or funding. A brief summary of each journey is provided below before the questions related to it. After reading the summary of each journey, please record your response to the questions based on your experiences and the experiences of those close to you. You can write as little or as much as you like and you do not have to write anything if the question has no relevance to your experiences. 1
The Journeys and the questions 1. Building communities (resilience and wellbeing) This journey is about creating opportunities to prevent mental illness and promote good mental health in the community. It is about making mental health everybody s business and addressing the stigma and discrimination that exists in some communities. Communities mean different things to different people. Most people belong to more than one community. Some examples of communities might be neighbourhood or community centres, sporting clubs, playgroups, schools, workplaces, local shopping centres, family, etc. When responding to the questions below consider what communities you belong to. What is good about your community? What do you think a resilient community would/does look like in your town/city? What are your hopes and aspirations for your community? 2
2. The best start This journey is about promoting good health during pregnancy and strong, positive family relationships in infancy and early childhood to protect against mental illness and foster resilience and mental wellbeing. When responding to the question below, consider your own experiences or those of people you know who have had a baby. What ideas have you got about how we can support mothers and fathers to give their babies the best start? 3. Troubled kids This journey is about providing support to children during their development to avoid any lasting negative consequences brought about by behavioural issues, trauma and mental ill health. When responding to the questions below, consider your own experiences as a parent or a carer or as a friend or supporter of children. You do not need to respond to these questions if they have no relevance to your experiences. Who is responsible for a child s wellbeing? 3
How can a child be supported to be the best they can be? 4. Healthy transitions This journey is about exploring what young people need to give them the best chance of a healthy transition to adulthood. It is about what young people need to enable them to finish school, complete training, get a job and become independent. When responding to the questions below, consider your own experiences as a parent or a carer of young people or you can consider your own experiences as a young person. You do not need to respond to these questions if they have no relevance to your experiences. What is needed to equip young people with the best opportunities to become independent adults? 4
5. Towards a better life This journey is about developing options so that people with a mental illness can enjoy lives as valued citizens. When responding to the questions below, consider a time when you felt valued by your community. You do not need to respond to these questions if they have no relevance to your experiences. What does something meaningful to do mean? How do you think you contribute to your community? 5
6. Breaking the cycle This journey is about creating better pathways for people with a mental illness who also have an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. It has a particular focus on keeping people out of the justice system. When responding to the question below, consider your own experiences and the experiences of others you know in managing drug and alcohol use and mental illness. You do not need to respond to this question if it has no relevance to your experiences. What do you think we could do to help people manage the negative outcomes of drug and alcohol use and potential criminal behaviour? Ideally what would the drug and alcohol and mental health support sector look like in the future? 6
7. Body and soul This journey is about designing responses that acknowledge the holistic health needs of people with a mental illness. This includes our physical, spiritual, and religious needs amongst many others. When responding to the questions below, consider when you have felt supported to look after your overall health (not just your mental health). You do not need to respond to these questions if they have no relevance to your experiences. Who are the important people supporting you to maintain body and soul? What do these people do to support you? Where does or should this take place? 7
8. Living long and strong This journey is about planning to take good care of our mental health as we age and the steps we can take to prevent problems and respond to them if they arise. When responding to the questions below, consider your own experiences as an older person, a carer of a mature person or as a person who is interested in planning for your mature years. You may also wish to consider the experiences of friends and family. You do not need to respond to these questions if they have no relevance to your experiences. What does the ideal retirement lifestyle or old age look like? Do you think there is enough focus on helping consumers plan for the future? How could this change? 8
9. Any other comments or idea you would like to share? Thank you for contributing to this survey. Your input will make a valuable contribution to the draft Strategic Plan for mental health in NSW. Please return your completed survey by 1 December 2013 to: Esther Pavel-Wood NSW Consumer Advisory Group - Mental Health Inc. Suite 501 80 William St East Sydney NSW 2011 Or scan and email to EPavel-Wood@nswcag.org.au or fax to 02 9332 0299 9
Demographics Note: this information is anonymous and helps us to make sure we are covering different groups of people in the consultations (e.g. young people or adults, living in metropolitan or regional NSW). Q1. Are you: Female Male Other Q2. How old are you? Q3. What is your postcode? Q4. In which country were you born? Q5. What language do you speak at home? Q6. Do you identify as: Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Q7. Do you identify as being from a culturally and linguistically diverse background? Yes, please specify: No Q8. Who are the people in your life that support you? (Please select as many as apply) GP Public system psychologist/psychiatrist Private psychologist/psychiatrist Other clinical service e.g. dietician, occupational therapist NGO support provider Forensic mental health service Spiritual group Family, friends or carer Other, please specify: Q9. Do you have a job? Yes No If yes, is it... Paid Unpaid Q10. Do you have a diagnosed physical health issue (e.g. diabetes, heart problems)? Yes No 10