You are required to assess three (3) individuals with mental health concerns and work collaboratively with each of them to develop a recovery wellness plan.

Part A

In preparation for each interview please consider the following questions. Note down your thoughts to these questions, as they will form a component of your submission for each of the three (3) clients.

Answer the following questions:

1. What sources and types of information/resources could you provide to the client to enable them to make informed choices about wellness planning? Include in your answer where you would find this information.
2. What are goals, preferences and values in the context of wellness planning and how could you develop an understanding of these from your client’s perspective?
3. How might you determine any cultural factors that may influence the wellness planning?
4. Identify who might need to be consulted about and/or included in the wellness plan? Why is it important to include each and what actions will they take?
5. When might you need the client’s and other people’s consent and what legal and ethical requirements might guide you regarding consent?
6. Why is it important to document the agreed plan and what might happen if your documentation is not accurate and precise?
7. How might you act preventatively to promote wellness and what type of environment/s promote this?
8. How should you respond to people in distress or crisis?
9. Why, what kind, and from who might you seek emergency assistance and backup support in a crisis?

 Part B

Conduct your interviews with your classmates.

Using the template attached or a wellness tool used in your workplace or provided by your teacher, complete an assessment for each of the scenario clients, taking care to identify needs, resources, capacities and strengths in relation to the client’s physical, social, emotional and cultural/spiritual wellbeing.

For each of the domains of wellbeing (Physical, Social, Emotional and Cultural/Spiritual) consider:

• the person’s strengths that may assist them in addressing this need
• the person’s existing resources and support

 Scenario 1 – Lacey:

Lacey is a 21yr old female who was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder two years ago.

Lacey had experienced symptoms of depression and anxiety throughout her early – mid teens and had her first manic episode at the age of 17yrs.

She lives at home with her mother, father and older sister. They are a supportive family unit, have a positive understanding of her diagnosis and increase their support as required for Lacey.

Lacey has a history of attempted self-harm, several in-patient hospitalisations – for both depressive and manic cycles – and has had many adjustments to her medication over the years. She was formally diagnosed with bipolar two years ago.

Lacey has a strong integrated care team of a psychiatrist, a counsellor (you) and family support worker. Her mother is her key support and attends sessions with Lacey when she requests her to.

Lacey has had lengthy periods of wellness in past years, but each time she feels well for a certain period of time Lacey believes that she no longer needs her medication and stops taking it, against the advice of her care team. This eventually results in periods of time when Lacey has heightened emotional states, outbursts and disruptions to her friendships and relationships.

Lacey had a disrupted end to her high schooling years but did gain her ATAR a year later through vocational education avenues. She is currently enrolled in an events management course but had to defer last semester due to the impact of a bad breakup with her then-boyfriend. Lacey experienced a particularly heightened episode of mania following the breakup, during which she had a car accident. Lacey was in hospital for 3 weeks, initially refusing to resume her medication. As a result, her parents are pushing for a more formalised means of guardianship or legal responsibility for Lacey should similar future situations occur.

Lacey has now been back on her medication for almost 6 weeks and is eating and sleeping well. She has recently met a new boyfriend but assures her parents and her counsellor that she is taking the relationship very slowly and that her boyfriend knows about her health issues.

Lacey’s mother has had the past two months off work to care for Lacey and is due to return to work shortly.

As Lacey’s mental health support worker, you will now work collaboratively to develop and document a recovery wellness plan and an advanced directive.

 Scenario 3 – Con:

Con is a 69yr old male who lives alone. His wife of 40 years passed away following a stroke and long period of hospitalisation in 2019. Con has one son, Angelo, aged 40yrs.

Con has been referred to you by his dietician, through an allied health clinic. He is diabetic, has an unhealthy BMI and is an insulin dependent diabetic. He takes daily medication for his diabetes, for cholesterol, for high blood pressure and depression.

Con has unhealthy eating habits, a high sugar diet and says his “knees prevent him from doing any exercise at all”.

The dietician has relayed to you that Con’s son Angelo was a great support to his father, but their relationship has been eroded over the past 12 months. Con’s temper, belligerence and poor living habits have pushed Angelo away. Angelo’s last comments to the dietician were “the ball is in dad’s court now. I can’t stand by and watch him slowly kill himself any longer”.

As a result, Con is totally isolated. Angelo provided most of his father transport and now Con has trouble getting out to the shops, appointments and to see other people. He no longer attends church or the local men’s shed which he used to do weekly before his wife died. 

The dietician has concerns for Con’s mental health as well as his physical health. He would like to develop a recovery wellness plan to motivate and monitor Con as a multidisciplinary team including Con’s GP, himself as the dietician and you as the mental health counsellor.

As Con’s mental health support worker, you will now work collaboratively to develop and document a recovery wellness plan.

Con has been referred to you by his dietician, through an allied health clinic. He is diabetic, has an unhealthy BMI and is an insulin dependent diabetic. He takes daily medication for his diabetes, for cholesterol, for high blood pressure and depression.

Con has unhealthy eating habits, a high sugar diet and says his “knees prevent him from doing any exercise at all”.

The dietician has relayed to you that Con’s son Angelo was a great support to his father, but their relationship has been eroded over the past 12 months. Con’s temper, belligerence and poor living habits have pushed Angelo away. Angelo’s last comments to the dietician were “the ball is in dad’s court now. I can’t stand by and watch him slowly kill himself any longer”.

As a result, Con is totally isolated. Angelo provided most of his father transport and now Con has trouble getting out to the shops, appointments and to see other people. He no longer attends church or the local men’s shed which he used to do weekly before his wife died. 

The dietician has concerns for Con’s mental health as well as his physical health. He would like to develop a recovery wellness plan to motivate and monitor Con as a multidisciplinary team including Con’s GP, himself as the dietician and you as the mental health counsellor.

As Con’s mental health support worker, you will now work collaboratively to develop and document a recovery wellness plan.