Pact's Southland mental health clients are successfully setting their own agenda about the training they want around their illness.
Two years ago a client advisory group was set up by then service advisor coordinator Clare Zyskowski with the help of clinician/educator Paul Reet.

Client Ailsa Fenton (later to become service advisor coordinator when Clare left) took the meeting minutes and sent out all the meeting invitations.

“From the start really the clients ran the group – Clare and I were just like observers which is fantastic and what it should be about,” says Paul.

The group set up ground rules about respect and listening to each other. It’s an open group for any Southland client who wishes to attend. Numbers at each session tend to range from 11 to 22.

The clients they don’t take anything out of the group unless the whole group decides and if they want to raise an issue it is a group contribution, not an individual one - no names are mentioned. “They also like giving their thanks to the staff as well. It’s not just about complaining,” Paul says.

One key request to emerge early on was clients wanting some education around their illness and ways to manage stress.
The education sessions Paul has run so far with the advisory group include stress management, dealing with difficult feelings, anger management, depression, food, diet and sleep.

“They set the programme and I just deliver. They’re benefiting from it I think, but what’s really marvellous about it is that it’s really their group.”

Paul’s most recent session was about depression.

“I said ‘look, I’ve had depression and there’s a number of staff who have had depression but your depression is unique to you so I want to know how it is for you so I can help the staff support you more effectively.’ I had some fantastic ideas from them.”

Last year when Paul was revamping the mandatory training for staff he asked the group to tell him the things they wanted staff to do to help them to manage their lives better.

“They gave me a lot of really good ideas which I’ve managed to build into the training programme.”

For further comment please contact:
Louise Carr
Pact CEO
Ph: 03 470 2206
Cell: 027 499 3251
louise.carr@pactgroup.co.nz