Planet FM Radio - Interview with Emma Doré, General Manager of SFMI Auckland
Take It From Us Radio Show - Planet FM (104.6FM). Are families and whanau being overlooked - perhaps even ignored completely - in clinical decisions about loved ones? Hear the view of Supporting Families in Mental Illness on this broadcast. Tuesday 8 November 2011
Audio Part 1;
Audio Part 2.
Hosted by people with experience of mental illness,
Take It From Us radio show is a voice for the mental health sector, involving a range of service users, peer support workers and representatives from the mental health field.
The show addresses stigma and discrimination, building awareness of mental health and wellness as an aspect of New Zealand's diversity and community wellbeing. The key priorities of the programme are to contribute towards positive family/whanau relationships, fostering understanding and tolerance, addressing differences, and counteracting discrimination arising from stigma against mental health service users, their families and service workers.
The show is broadcast by Framework Trust as part of the Like Minds, Like Mine programme. Listen to Planet FM (104.6 FM Auckland) on Tuesdays at 12:30pm or use the online archive to access recent programmes.
SFNZ Media Release, 04 October 2011
Supporting Families in Mental Illness New Zealand (SFNZ)
Re: 2 October 2011 - NZ Herald - Mentally ill patient on a rampage
SFNZ expresses its sympathies for the victims in this case, their families/whänau and emergency services involved in another preventable incident. "The most unfortunate part of all this is that most if not all the high profile case's is that had the families been listened to, in all probability those incidents may not have occurred." "We are concerned that people in families/whänau who care for a loved one with a mental illness are not taken seriously when clinical decisions are made", says Jim Crowe, spokesperson for the SFNZ National Council.
"It continues to be a reality that the people who know the person best, the family, were once again not listened to". This is despite the Code of Family Rights and practice guidelines that require families/whänau are to be part of the treatment team, their views are to be listened to and respected. "However in practice, this does not happen consistently. Mr Crowe points out that families are entitled to support in their own right and don't need clients permission for this.
SFNZ advocates that the Code of Family Rights be enacted into law. See http://www.supportingfamiliesnz.org.nz/SFMI%20code%20of%20family%20rights%20brochure.pdf
Mr Crowe stresses that "This is not just the view of SFNZ, but is also the official view contained within the Ministry of Health practice guidelines 2000. For example when clinical decisions are to be made about people at risk of self harm, the Ministry of Health has a standard that specifies the role of families/whänau. "SFNZ will want to see DHBs comply with that standard."
What stands out in this case and every other high profile case involving mental illness, is that when family concerns were voiced they were not listened to. The awfulness of those outcomes will long be remembered."
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Too often practitioners hide behind the Privacy Act but it is now well known that disclosure of information to families/whänau of details of a person experiencing a mental illness is authorised if it is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to public health or safety, or the life or health of any individual (Information Privacy Principle 11). "Overall it is the families/whänau who knows their loved one both when they are well and unwell; they are a source of information and support which for some reason is so often overlooked."
When clinical staff are assessing risk Families/whanau can be a good source of information . When assessing safety they need to consider the person in their home, work and community settings. SFNZ encourages clinical staff to refer families/whänau of people affected by mental illness to our support services throughout NZ. This referral can be vital to families/whänau as it provides them with information, education and advocacy about mental illness. Families/whänau discover that they are not alone and have opportunities to meet others in similar situations.
Serious harm can be prevented if family/whänau are taken seriously and listened to. If clinical decisions not to admit or to discharge a person suffering from a mental illness are taken without engaging family/whänau or disregarding their views and serious harm occurs, SFNZ
We want to continue working with DHBs on these very important matters, we believe that a positive partnership would be of real benefit to not only the families/whänau but the community as a whole.
Supporting Families in Mental Illness (NZ) can be contacted through our branches, listed on our website. (See http://www.supportingfamiliesnz.org.nz/
Spokesperson - Jim Crowe contact number 021 284 8996
