Families are left to Navigate the Complex Web of Support Systems
- Mona Cooley
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
"In a world where mental health challenges are often seen as individual struggles, families are left to navigate the complex web of support systems, each pulling in different directions. The prevailing focus on individual problems often leaves the family unit fragmented and struggling to function as a cohesive system"
Neil E..Neary, BA, DC, MPH-HP of Neary Consulting Inc
Today, I am doing a post sharing what has led me to provide a resource for families, has been in existence since 2015, who are Navigating the Complex Web of Support Systems.
Since November, Cool Family Solutions has been contacted by families who were referred to me by others who have experienced previous support from us or through our website who are in a crisis.
This is the reason I am doing this post as families are needing help/resources more than ever today. Receiving calls of desperation has had me reflecting on our experience.
In1995, our family was faced with mental health and lost of what to do when our family member said she had the cure for aids and had eradic behaviours. You feel helpless of what to do and hopeless of what was next for our loved one.
I asked the psychiatrist- what help is there for the family? Shrugging his shoulders, he didn't have a suggestion.
We were fortunate! A Professor of the U of C suggested talking to a lady at CMHA who could guide us due to her lived experience. Today, I am grateful that our family had some guidance and teamed together to tackle the challenges with our family member, a mom of 3 children, supportive husband, extended family, friends, has her MBA and has worked diligently from 22 years of age to flourishing 31 years later managing her bipolar disorder.
Our family learning through trial and error what to do different and focusing on rebuilding what was not working: relationships and connection as a family was the difference. It takes a holistic approach with the family members to learn how to apply the tools learned in the 10-week session regardless of the readiness of loved one to get help.
This is the WHY I DO WHAT I DO TODAY using our established strength-based comprehensive 10-week family process to prevent the family system from collapsing. The 20-hour course, participants learn practical tools and strategies to tackle their challenges and apply them immediately to their situations.
Below is the Journey of INTITATING a process to support families, ADVOCATING for change and ESTABLISHING Cool Family Solutions (CFS) in 2008 and for workplace Cool Corp Solutions (CCS) 2024.
INITIATING a conversation with CMHA Calgary about establishing a 6-week session for families to learn more how to do something different to have more positive outcomes was welcomed. This led to being contracted by CMHA to lead Family Support Peer Group weekly from 1998 - 2016.
During this time, families were flowing in steadly to the weekly sessions learning how to use the tools taught in the session. One evening, a group of 15 people were frustrated with not being included in the process when they had to take their loved one to the hospital. Usually I would not focus on the frustration with the health care system as it was important to focus on what they were in control of ( what they say, do, think and feel). BUT, when 15 people were expressing the same concern, I stopped the meeting and said giving them a piece of paper to write down their concerns and I would do something with it.
The change in the dynamics of frustration had them focus on the topic of the evening. Why? Someone took the time to LISTEN to what they were saying, UNDERSTANDING their situation and VALIDATING being honest about what they felt and thought.
(LUV - one of our tools)
When I was complaining there was no help for our family, I was told by a wise person
"Don't Complain, Do Something About it! So I did!!
What I did with the pages of concern of the 15 people, I recapped their concerns and phoned the Mental Health Advocate of Alberta ( 2015). I asked the receptionist who would I speak to about a concern I had about having to stop a meeting to listen to 15 people frustrated with the support they were not getting to manage family situations of mental health/addiction in their families.
I told her I would only take 15 minutes of her time and I would time myself. I received a call immediately. She listened and told me she was going to contact a person and would get back to me within the week. She said, if you don't hear from me, call me. I told her to count on it!!
A week later, I was contacted by a representative in Calgary to meet her at her office sharing the same list of concerns and family's frustrations. She asked me what did I want to happen. I said I want a brochure for Families and Caregivers as Partners and provide a list what to communicate to Health Care Providers as Partners as well as Cool Family Solutions to be listed in the brochure. She formed a team of people and the brochure was distributed 4 months later - October 2015.
TOGETHER We're Better - Patient and Family Centred Care in Addiction and Mental Health. Stated on the cover of the Brochure is:
"Partnering in the care of your Loved One" ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES states:
You know your loved one in ways that no one else can.
Involving family and other supports is important to people accessing health services. Everyone's viewpoint is important to give the best care possible.
That's why building a partnetship between you, your loved one, and health care providers will mean the best care for your loved one.
This brochure was developed in collaboration with families and shares some ideas about ways to build a partnership with health care providers.
Below is the link to brochure and most important is the section:
#2 - COMMUNICATION AND SHARING INFORMATION - in this section is the Information to share with health care providers could include:
YOUR voice matters. Give the team information about your loved one, whether over the phone, in-person or in a letter.
I am suggesting you do in a letter and have several copies to give to the medical team. Keep a copy for yourself.
LINK TO BROCHURE:
#(LUV - one of our tools)
#Partners - Families and Caregivers
#Partners - Health Care Providers as Partners
#Partner with CFS/CCP - Dr Wayne Hammond
Comments