Case management

[snowflake231]

So I have been reffered to case management by the mental health triage. Anyone have any experience with being case managed? 

[Ed1975]

Hi @snowflake231 

Yep, I have. It was a waste of my time to be honest. The only thing from it that I got was a diagnosis of CPTSD. But they only touched on my childhood trauma's and didn't even go into my behaviors as an adult. I don't think they diagnosed me properly. They couldn’t as they never delved into everything. All the psychiatrist wanted to do is put me on antidepressant pills. I couldn't sleep at all back then (still can't) and needed just some relief and sleep intervention, it took 10 days to get the psychiatrist to give me relief. They told me I needed EMDR and CBT but I had to go searching for the psychologists myself who dealt with my specific behaviors. The clinician exited me after around 5 weeks. I don't blame her, I blame the system. 

That's just my experience. I'm sure others have better experiences. 

[snowflake231]

@Ed1975 

Oh no that suxs. 

[tyme]

Hey @snowflake231 ,

For me, it was the best thing for me. I know a lot of people who want a case manager, but can't get one.

At first, I didn't find it helpful, but later, it was super helpful because they were able to provide holistic care. I had weekly psychology sessions. In my treating team, they also provided a psych registrar, a peer worker, a psycho social support worker and I was able to have planned admissions into PARCs which was absolutely fantastic.

It was so helpful for me to the point that I was so well and told them I didn't need it anymore.

But I acknolwedge that that is not the same for everyone. However, for the 3 years I was with them, it helped tremendously.

All the best with whatever you decide. I think my biggest learning was that I had to work with them and not against them.

[snowflake231]

@tyme 

Thank you for your feedback. At the moment I am only managed by my gp. So I'm seeking more help. I'm hoping that this can happen with them. 

[tyme]

As I said, it doesn't work for everyone. I had to work very much with the team. Even at my discharge, they said to me that they usually don't work with people with my diagnosis, but they took me on @snowflake231  I'm super grateful. 

My case manager moved on to another service but now I see him as a private patient but only see him 1 a year or so.

[snowflake231]

@tyme 

I'm willing to work with them. As I said at this moment I don't have any care so anything would be helpful. 

[tyme]

Totally. Consider what you want from them too.

For me, the most helpful was:

1) medication reviews

2) my files were all in the one place! I didn't need to repeat my story 1000 times! Each time I went to hospital (weekly), my case manager knew straight away

3) house visits, including on weekends if needed

4) connection to psychosocial supports and services

5) support to get into free exercise programs

6) I had a whole treating team 

7) Their support in getting me into PARCs when I needed it (about once every 10 weeks or so).

All the best with it. Hope it goes well for you. Have a think about your goals. They can't 'fix' you, but they can guide you - then you do the hard work.

I really hope things go okay. I hear how hard things have been for you.

@snowflake231 

[Bow]

I’ve had a case manager for a few years now and while sometimes my case manager themselves is not always the best and most helpful, having a case manager has been helpful. 

When community mental health eventually gave me a psychologist, she referred me to the case manager team cause I was acute and my psychologist was only part time, so I had someone else I could reach out to. 

Having a case manager, she referred me to DBT group, a specialist OT, the organization that I now have my support worker through. I see a pdoc through the case manager team. She has liaised with my gp and dietitian, managed my meds when I wasn’t safe to manage myself. She did a referral to housing. She’s someone that knows lots about me that I can usually talk to when I need to. 

most of the time it’s totally worth it! They just get very busy sometimes.

[snowflake231]

@Bow  

Thank you for your input.