Lived Experience Forum

[BPDSurvivor]

Hi @Spirit_Healer ! Soooooo good to hear from you! I’ve got a new position as an inclusion officer where I work. It’s so good to be able to hear stories of real people and how “excluded” they have felt…it really makes me consider my own practices so I can then support others to be more inclusive.

I’m so glad to hear your recovery is going well. 

I’m also doing so well and I love what I do. If anything, I’m even more driven now I’m what I do!

I look forward to hearing from you again shortly.

[BPDSurvivor]

Hi @Spirit_Healer - how's life and work going for you?

I really really love my job in inclusion. I can't believe how comfortably I have transitioned to the position.  I feel like I am getting to much out of it. 

Of course there's still a long way to go, but I am considering what sort of training needs to be provided to staff so we are all on the same level. That's not easy considering there are over 350 staff to train.

I hope to hear from you soon 🙂

[Spirit_Healer]

Hi @BPDSurvivor , thanks for the check-in and nice to hear from you!

Overall, I'm going well, thanks. I had a bit of a scare with my mental health about a month ago: I experienced some brief paranoia one afternoon - it was very scary, but I recognised it as a symptom of my condition straight away. I'm very lucky to have this insight, and as a result I can self-talk out of it fairly effectively most of the time. My psychiatrist has also been supporting me through it. Also, I am maintaining my management plan with the early warning signs and actions to take, in case I need it.

Work has been good too, thanks. I really enjoy working in CALD communities and seeing my clients make progress. I have several first family meetings coming up soon: I have heard that the families at this workplace can be quite outcome-driven, so I hope I can demonstrate at these  meetings that the motivation is mutual, that I also care about their family member as well and we can work together to improve outcomes. Wish me luck!

[BPDSurvivor]

Wow @Spirit_Healer , that sounds quite full on to have to face these family meetings. I hope it goes well. Do you have supports? Or do you take these meetings on your own?

Ive had to run meetings with CALD families about their children. Sometimes I have to remember that if I was plonked in a foreign country and didn’t have the language, I’d be totally stressed out. This is how many of these families are coming. By taking on this perspective, I am then more mindful of their needs.

Do you work with a range of people from various cultures? Are you expected to speak the language or do you use interpreters?

We use interpreters. We book them in through an external company.

And for the MH scare, that does sound scary! I wouldn’t know what to do. I’m glad to had the insight to be able to recognise it early. Please take care.

Speak soon.

[Spirit_Healer]

Thanks for your reply, @BPDSurvivor !

During these family meetings, my bosses and colleagues are nearby, however, I am expected to facilitate these meetings on my own. My boss and colleagues have helped me to prepare, so I should be fine 🙂

My clients and their families are mainly from East Asian and South Asian backgrounds, although there are some from other parts of the world, too. We use interpreters, thankfully.

Great to hear from you, hope you're still going well!

[BPDSurvivor]

Hey @Spirit_Healer ,

I work with a lot of Indians, Afghans, Africans and Polynesians.

 Each group has got their own amazing culture. So much to celebrate.

 My job is very stressful nowadays but I really do love it.

 Hope you are well.

[Spirit_Healer]

Hi @BPDSurvivor, nice to hear from you!

I'm glad to hear you're going well with your job. What are the most rewarding aspects of it? And what are the stressful aspects?

I've had a cold the last few days, still recovering. Other than that, I've been well. My workload has changed a bit recently; I'm managing well. And I'm glad to report that the family meetings have gone well, too. It's so much better when the families are motivated and on the same page.

Keep up the good work!

[BPDSurvivor]

Hey @Spirit_Healer ,

Good to hear from you! 

My job gets stressful when people I work with are not in the same page. They may not have the cultural understanding so it makes it very difficult to run multidisciplinary meetings, esp when everyone is a specialist in their own field.

It also difficult to have new reforms coming out all the time. It’s hard having a staff of over 300 to get them on the same page in the light of inclusion.

 What have you been up to lately?

[Spirit_Healer]

Thanks for your reply, @BPDSurvivor!

Yes, it can be difficult to get everyone from a team on the same page, and even more so when cultural differences are involved, so good on you! When you mention reforms, are they at the government level or organisational level? It can be destabilising when there is too much change at once, although if you try to see it in a positive light, at least there is a drive to improve.

I've been busy mainly with work, it's taking up a lot of my energy and I regret not being able to do much socially or keep up with friends. Luckily for me, I've just reached a couple of weeks of leave. I'm looking forward to relaxing a bit before work kicks in again. I've done the majority of work I need to do for now, so I'm giving myself a pat on the back. 

How is your social life going? Are you feeling connected at the moment?

Good to hear from you; have a great weekend!

[Spirit_Healer]

@BPDSurvivor , haven't heard from you in a while, how have you been?