I know that I’m not the first person having to deal with mental health issues, and I know I won’t be the last. Each situation is as unique as the individual and circumstanes involved, as is the solution to help guide the individual through to the other side.
As I look at the system as it is right now, it’s all very daunting. The emphasis is being placed on the individual with the ‘issues’ to seek out help. While there may be many courses of help and treatment once that first step in taken, that first step is also the reason many are holding back. All I see when I look at the system, the way it’s set up now, is a bunch of hurdles and red tape that need to be worked through in order to get the right kind of help that is needed. That, in and of itself, can be very offputting. If you’re already in a situation where you’re feeling overhelmed, seeking out professional help BY YOURSELF makes it that much more daunting. Having people in your corner, rooting for you, isn’t the same as actually having someone PHYSICALLY beside you in every step of the process.
If I had a say in how the whole system works, I would revamp the process of how to get someone to visit. Offices should be like playgrounds for adults. Since no two adults are alike, reception areas should be made more visitor friendly. Instead of a reception desk and chairs in the waiting area, they should be replaced with things that make the visitor more at home. Areas like a little mini library for those who like to read (complete with reading nooks), LEGOS for the kid at heart, tablets for those who like technology (complete with a soft spot to sit on), etc. Offer things like coffee, tea, juice, milk & cookies, water, wrapped sandwiches, etc. Once the visitor has made themselves comfortable, approach with information about how they can proceed forward. What brought them in (and allow them only to reveal as much as they’re comfortable with)? What kind of help do they see themselves needing? Is there a specific type of support system they have or are in need of in order to proceed? What would be needed from both parties going forward to help the individual feel validated while providing the specific health provider with the information needed to help assist the individual involved? This is very much a two way street and the individual involved seeking help needs to feel safe enough to ask for help without being judged or intimidated by the system as a whole.
One thing I’m having a hard time to get people to understand is that there is a difference in they type of support your getting and how it plays a role in your everyday life. I have A TON of people in my corner, rooting me on. But 99.99% of it is from afar. The best they can do is cheer me on from a distance. The type of help I need they cannot provide, nor do they know where I can go to get it. For me, by having an office with a ‘safe space’ to roam in and staff that help guide them to where they need to go would help. It takes the pressure off. I would rather see a health providers office as a safe zone with a ‘make yourself comfortable’ atmosphere and they follow your cues.
Island of Misfit Mamas 