WHO CAN I TALK TO?

People in your life who you may be able to talk to and how they can help you to get your views heard and your rights respected.

Key worker
(sometimes called Care Manager or Primary Nurse):

They are your main support while at the unit. Hopefully you will be able to build a strong and trusting relationship with them. They can voice your views but may not be able to advocate for you if they have a different idea of what is best for you.

A Friend:

Friends can sometimes speak up for you and support you and your rights. If you have a friend you trust then they can be a good person to talk to, especially if you feel like they understand you.

Family:

Family members can sometimes be very good advocates and sometimes not so good at all. It depends on whether or not they agree with your views and what information they have. They usually want you to just be happy and feel better. Sometimes they will go along with the medical professional’s decisions and sometimes they may disagree.

Independent Advocate:

An advocate is someone who is separate from the hospital and social services and can help you to put your side of things across to those involved in your treatment.

Anyone can advocate for you but an independent advocate can do so without any conflict of interest. They are committed to supporting your views and no one else’s so can always be a good source of unbiased information, support and rights. Unfortunately advocates are not always available, that’s why the toolkit has been created to help you advocate for yourself.

Independent Mental Health Advocates:

These will be available from October 2008 if you are in Wales and from April 2009 if you are in England, but only if you are detained by the Mental Health Act or if you might need ECT.

Psychologist:

Someone at the unit, whose job, is to provide therapy usually by talking through your problems. Over time they will hopefully be able to help you to feel better and to understand what has been happening inside you.

Social Worker:

If you have a social worker they have a responsibility to listen to your views and to look out for your ‘best interests’. Sometimes they will be able to advocate for you, but not always because what they thinks is best for you may not be what you think.

Psychiatrist:

Your doctor at the unit, though you may also have a different when you are at home. They have overall responsibility for medical treatment at the unit. If you can talk to your psychiatrist then you will be able to influence your care and treatment much more.

Created by Advocacy in Somerset - Registered Charity No. 1093096

Initially funded by the Childrens Rights Alliance for England’s
Ready Steady Change Programme

Upgrade in 2008 funded by the National Institute for Mental Health in England
and the Department of Health

Copyright © Advocacy in Somerset Ltd 2009