Family guide user guide v1 0 by Family Guide to Mental Health

The Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery

user guide

prac..oners & families For educators, students, version 1.0

www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com

Pilot launch May 29, 2014 The Mission Media Company Inc. 416.929.7464

user guide

www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com

project & user guide intro family support: need/raIonale

guide to project content:

> video: “The Journey Home” feature documentary Mini-‐Doc Video Clips & Family Interview Clips

> text:

Info & resources – subject secIons x 5

discussion guides

team, credits & contacts Project Producer / Outreach Contact: The Mission Media Company 416.929.7464 familyguidetomentalhealth@gmail.com

project intro The Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery is a family peer documentary project that mobilizes the insights and experiences of families to help other families just beginning their journey to mental health recovery. We can help ease the burden family members face by giving them direct access to people who understand their experience and can provide insight – with easy, universal access at www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com Using documentary interviews, film/videos and text materials, we can help families overcome isolaIon, lack of relevant informaIon and ease the barriers of sIgma by providing a chance to learn from those who have gone through it themselves. This can provide families with relevant informaIon, a sense of community, guidance and hope. We believe it offers a great first step in the family recovery process and hopefully, it can open doors to new learning and support. The Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery is also designed as an educaIon tool for teachers, students, families, caregivers and groups. We hope to expand awareness about the FAMILY JOURNEY and offer educaIonal tools for study and further research. Our project has been designed by family members and family support organizaIons to help people take a first step. We welcome you! Enjoy exploring our best-‐pracIce support resource for families across Canada, the US and around the world! We hope you will share it with those who need it. Families helping families. This user guide will introduce you to key content elements of the Family Guide. We hope you explore it, share it, and one day -‐ contribute your insight to it.

user guide intro Content Focus: The Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery provides an overview on the FAMILY EXPERIENCE in facing mental illness and mental health recovery. This focuses on TWO PARALLEL PATHS:

1. the occurrence of a mental illness in a loved one: recogniIon, diagnosis, care, recovery

2. the reacIon that occurs among family members, related to the emoIons, impact, upset, change in relaIonships and caregiving responsibiliIes that can occur as a result of a loved one’s mental health condiIon & recovery. This expands to strategies for coping and trying to maintain a healthy way of life for family members whilst making this journey.

The Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery website and our documentary videos focus on these two aspects – but our MAIN FOCUS is to acknowledge, share and discuss the FAMILY MEMBER experience. Of course, that includes key aspects of caregiving, but we do not focus on detailed descripIon of speciﬁc mental illnesses & speciﬁc care strategies.

Content Relevance by age, group: Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery content is a useful educaIonal tool for a wide range of people; from those with a general interest in this topic – to intensely involved families, pracIIoners & educators. It is designed as a solid introducIon to key aspects of the FAMILY Experience and can provide a solid foundaIon for more detailed research or Training. Our project content is designed for use by:

EDUCATION GROUPS & CLASSES Family Members Family Support Groups & Orgs’s Employee Groups and counselling PracIIoner Use & Training

> > > > >

Ages 12 to 18, 18+ Ages 12+ All ages All ages All ages

A. User GUIDE – self-‐serve content selecIon www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com has three types of content: video, text & forums. The following content pages provide you with highlights in each area. “The Journey Home” documentary provides a chronological journey that can be watched as a solid overview -‐ or you can choose to self select short mini doc videos by subject or by family interview subject.

B. User GUIDE – group discussion focus Our User Guide includes a detailed “DISCUSSION GUIDE”. This idenIﬁes KEY THEMES with suggested video & text content that ﬁts well for viewing, study or discussion step-‐by-‐step. The Discussion Guide is designed for Educators (for ages 12+), Trainers & Group Facilitators.

family support facts / needs

Why we need to understand & support the Family experience The World Health OrganizaIon esImates 1 in 5 people will experience a debilita.ng mental illness during their lifeImes. In Canada, 7 million people will be affected. Over 1 billion will be affected worldwide. Most of our families will have a loved one face a mental health condiIon at some point. When a mental illness strikes a loved one, the whole family is impacted, ooen profoundly. The personal burden on individuals and families can be substanIal and someImes, staggering. It is a burden that can be eased -‐ if there is early apenIon and support. While there are dedicated resources available for those with mental health condiIons -‐ there are shockingly limited resources designed to help families manage their own individual stress and suffering. The following research documents the impact of mental illness on family members: “Families experience grief and loss. Families feel unprepared and inept. Family members may give up social contacts and employment, resulting in isolation and financial strain. Most people with mental illness live with family members, who become the primary carers — an unremitting task if the illness results in disability and social dislocation.

“Interviews with family carers found that over two-thirds (77.7%) suffered psychiatric levels of anxiety and depression themselves. Yet, in spite of these research findings, not to mention the expressions of distress from families themselves - the needs of family members are still largely ignored.” “Due to de-institutionalization, Family caregivers now provide vital, informal caregiving. Despite their pivotal role, family caregivers can be unprepared for caregiving and can experience poorer health outcomes and significant subjective and objective burdens relating to their caregiving. In a recent study, caregivers had the lowest rates of physical and mental well being of any population group, with 56% having moderate depression.” “Caregivers have reported subjective burden, including emotional exhaustion (burnout), loneliness and isolation, psychological distress, and emotional problems... (see over)

family support facts / needs

…more impact on family members: “Burdens on family members include coping with the illness and its effects on the person, and financial and occupational demands In performing their caregiving roles. Most had experienced long-term stress in caring for their family member. For nearly all, stress was also linked with other parts of their life, such as work demands and juggling the needs of other family members with the person with the mental illness.” While the needs of families are substantial, there are barriers to accessing it: •  •  •  •  •  •

Resistance, fear and stigma that keep families from accessing for care or support Distance to available regional resources Language and cultural barriers to accessing or using support services or resources Economic cost to access support services Lack of awareness or information: what resources exist to support family members? Lack of available local care resources designed to serve family members

Our project provides an easy access, online Peer Support for Families. The recogniIon & use of peer and online support is conInuing to grow. “Peer support decreases morbidity and mortality rates, reduces health care service use, increases life expectancy, self-efficacy, knowledge and self-reported health status and better self-care skills, as well as less depression, heightened self-esteem and selfefficacy, and improved quality of life. In particular, peer support can link people who share knowledge and experience that others, including many health workers, do not have.” SOURCE: AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS In a landmark report on mental health issued by the US Surgeon General, the evidence for peer support was summarized this way: ‘Participation has been found to lessen feelings of isolation, increase practical knowledge, and sustained coping efforts. At the same time that peer support has been evolving during the last two decades, the Internet has become a key tool for health information sharing; with 78% of young adults now looking for health information online. In fact, people are now more likely to use the Internet to find health information than to go to a physician.

The Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery will introduce an easy access, online Peer Support for Families. Families learning from other families is a way to assist in recovery.

project content: website www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com

Aoer three years of documentary producIon and internet development, we are proud to launch the Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery website for families, educators and pracIIoners across Canada & around the world.

WEBSITE CONTENT focuses on: VIDEO, TEXT & our ONLINE COMMUNITY 5

www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com

project content

ﬁlm & video

video content opIons: •  “The Journey Home” feature documentary •  short subject MINI-‐DOC video clips •  individual FAMILY INTERVIEWS clips Our documentary ﬁlm and video captures Family experiences and insights that can provide an inImate glimpse into the journey families undertake in facing a mental health challenge. We have interviewed 40 families, from a range of communiIes, condiIon types and relaIonships -‐ resulIng in 15 hours of interviews with parents, sons & daughters, brothers and sisters, spouses and extended family. We have edited to allow audiences to choose their format of choice – long form ﬁlm, short subject focused mini-‐documentary clip or simply watch a family member of your choice in our family interview gallery.

project content:

the journey home feature documentary – 76 minutes

Family experiences in mental health recovery SYNOPSIS: When a mental illness strikes a family member, the whole family is impacted and it can affect each family member differently. The JOURNEY HOME focuses on the family journey to recovery: from first onset, through diagnosis, seeking care, life adjustment, family member reacIons, coping and finding the path to recovery. Our feature film is composed of single sequences of this journey. Scene 1 -‐ One in FIVE PART ONE BEGINS

An introducIon to the prevalence of mental illness and the impact it has on families.

Scene 2 -‐ The Journey Begins

Family members speak about the ﬁrst instance when their loved one was unwell.

Scene 3 -‐ Impact on Families

A loved one having a mental illness aﬀects the whole family. Family members and family support workers talk about the reacIons, the stages and the interpretaIons of families.

Scene 4 -‐ Coping & Enduring

Facing a mental health crisis in your family can be scary, traumaIc, confusing and diﬃcult. Families share the challenges of seeking diagnosis, care, informaIon and support.

Scene 5 -‐ First Steps to Recovery

Family members talk about the ﬁrst small signs of progress on the road back to recovery.

Scene 6 -‐ Talk about it…if you can PART TWO BEGINS

Every family, culture and community has their own interpretaIon and behaviour in facing mental illness. Families talk about overcoming silence and sIgma, to ﬁnally open up.

Scene 7 -‐ Expand the Conversa.on

We explore the wider conversaIon about mental health and sIgma at the Opening Minds conference with Lloyd Robertson, Glen Close & Jessie Close & Dr. David Goldbloom.

Scene 8 -‐ Reaching the Community

We meet families expanding the conversaIon about mental health in the community at events “Simply Divas” and the “No Surrender” hockey challenge. We interview Liberal Leader -‐ and family member -‐ JusIn Trudeau. Scene 9 -‐ Families: Finding your balance PART THREE BEGINS Family members learn to care for THEMSELVES too. Self-‐care is crucial for family members.

Scene 10 -‐ Turning Points to Recovery

Family members talk about the key moments and turning points that helped their loved one and their family ﬁnd progress, hope and renewed wellness – on the way back to recovery.

Scene 11 -‐ Comple.ng the Journey

We hear from families who have made it back. Life isn’t perfect, but it is stable, happy and no longer focused on impending crisis. A new balance has been found. NOTE: The FILM can be viewed ONLINE in 3 half-‐hour PARTS or as single scene MINI-‐DOC’s Scene # is the same as “Clip #” in the MINI DOC Gallery or Chapter # on the DVD.

project content: www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com

text info resources

Thought provoking, revealing, informaIve and someImes heart breaking -‐ our text materials extend our ability to explore speciﬁc mental health condiIons & family experiences, in-‐depth. ArIcles, chapter excerpts, custom research and pieces wripen especially for Family Guide have been organized according to SUBJECT TYPE. Each has mulIple arIcles:

¤ DEFINING MENTAL HEALTH & ILLNESS ¤ MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ¤ THE ROAD TO RECOVERY FOR FAMILIES ¤ FAMILY STORIES IN TEXT ¤ FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES (Online)

Text contributors to the Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery include: Authors: Sabrina Baker MSW Dr. Charmaine Williams, MSW U of T Faculty of Social Work Dr. Maria Kokai Chief Psychologist, TCDSB Dr. Sarah Rosenthal, University of Kentucky

Organiza.ons: FAME, CAMH, Family Outreach & Response Intl Schizophrenia FoundaIon Psychology Today, Healthy Minds Canada, OnlineColleges.net, Bridgeross Publishing

Family Authors: Assante Haughton David Cho Stuart Clarﬁeld Terry-‐Lee Marvnen Jane McNulty Nadine Phillips Ellie Munn

project content: www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com

online community

Families, students and pracIIoners can share THEIR OWN VIEWS & MATERIALS by becoming part of the ONLINE COMMUNITY on our site.

FAMILY FORUMS, Online Proﬁles and Blogs allow visitors to not only view our materials but become Member contributors to the Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery.

Sample online forum comments: Jenna D·∙ Edinburgh, United Kingdom Watching these videos brought tears to my eyes, and I really found myself wishing that these had been available as resources for my family when I was bapling depression and an eaIng disorder as a teenager. Finally a documentary worth watching :) Shadia K ·∙ Mississauga, ON, Canada It made the idea of mental illness seem ok since people were discussing their own experiences; more people can relate when they see this -‐ good use of diverse people to really reﬂect the populaIon.

This is a brilliant project and it would be great if there were many more like it all over the world.

Judith Ann ·∙ Kibbutz Gezer, Israel I know I have gopen a lot of insight from reading other people's comments, and it has really helped me with my day to day struggle. Ingūna K ·∙ Latvia Easier to recognize and deal with a painful quesIon, if you know that someone else also has a similar problem or situaIon. I think these videos are very helpful to familiarize yourself with other people's thoughts and experiences. Noura H ·∙ Tripoli, North, Lebanon I loved this interview because the mother gives other mothers so much hope. Most of the families that are caring for members with mental illness lose hope. I think by talking to others going through the same process -‐ gives one hope!

Become a Free Member and join the conversaIon! Join or start a forum, put up content on your own proﬁle page. 9

discussion guide for educators & groups

You can run through this all chronologically or pick your topics

1. How many people are aﬀected by mental illness? Who are they? VIDEO > The Journey Home Part 1 or Mini Doc Journey Home Clip 1 “Intro” (3:25) TEXT > Deﬁning Mental Health and Illness: “what is mental illness?” presentaIon Mental Health CondiIons: “when something’s wrong: Ideas for Families”

Mental illness will touch 1 in 5 people, crossing all geographic & demographic lines, worldwide. How does that translate to your city, town, state or country. Our planet? What is mental illness & how is it understood in you community, your family? An interes@ng place to start the conversa@on.

2. Are family members impacted? How? How do they react?

VIDEO > The Journey Home Part 1 or Mini Doc Journey Home Clip 2 “The Journey Begins” (5:44) & Mini Doc Clip 3 “Impact on Families” (7:25) TEXT > Family Stories in Text: (the whole secIon!), but check out “One hundred years of experience”, “An Adult Too Soon – A Son’s Journey”. Etc.

When a mental illness aﬀects a loved one, it has an impact on the whole family. Parents, sons & daughters, brothers and sisters, spouses. Stress, fear, worry, changed rela@onships & responsibili@es, caregiving are just part of what is involved. Video & text provides personal context.

3. What is the journey like for family members?

VIDEO > The Journey Home Part 1 or Mini Doc Journey Home Clip 4 “Coping, Enduring” (6:14) Or “Family Video – Counsellor Interview: Safra” (4:06) TEXT > Family Stories in Text: “An Adult Too Soon – a son’s story”, & “Rainbow Roads”.

Families experience a range of emo@ons, circumstances and change to their lives, and every person and family has a range of reac@ons. Our video Chapter and interview clips speaks to the various reac@ons and stages a family goes through and the various reac@ons of family members. Your group will likely have their OWN personal experience they might be willing to discuss.

4. How do families ﬁnd care or support? What stages are involved? VIDEO > The Journey Home Part 1 or Mini Doc Clip 5 “First steps to recovery” (7:53) TEXT > The Road to Recovery for Families: “SupporIng Families: the 4 C’s, the 7 A’s” TEXT > Family Support Resources – list of dozens of organizaIons online, by region.

Addressing mental illness, finding support and care and UNDERSTANDING the situa@on is the first step on the road to recovery, yet it’s oWen scary, difficult and confusing – and requires pa@ence – for individuals and for families.

SEE OVER >>>>

discussion guide for educators & groups

You can run through this all chronologically or pick your topics

5. How are families judged? How do they feel in their community? Can they talk about it? If not, why? What stands in their way?

VIDEO > The Journey Home Part 2 or Mini Doc Clip 6 “Talk about it…if you can” (7:21) Or “Family Interview: David” (3:06), Family Interview: Asante (2:32) TEXT > Family Stories in Text: “DemysIfying the S word” Every culture has its own interpreta@ons, values and rules in iden@fying and reac@ng to mental illness. What are the rules in your community? In your family? Can you talk about it? Silence or S@gma? The video clips will show a range of cultures and the CHANGING RULES now unfolding.

6. Is our community starIng to change? Are we starIng to tell people about our family mental health issues?

VIDEO > The Journey Home Part 2 or Mini Doc Clip 7 “Expanding the ConversaIon” (7:21) & Mini Doc Clip 8 “Reaching the Community” (11:52) Or “Family Interview: Jane 2” (3:46), “Family Video: Families Look Forward” (5:00) Or “Family Video – Opening Minds Conference” (5:23) TEXT > Family Stories in Text: “Family Guide Interview – Karen…advice for families” The overwhelming sta@s@cs, silent suﬀering and health care costs related to mental illness is now helping to create new opportuni@es to talk about mental illness, care and recovery. Our video clips show events where prac@@oners, families and advocates are sharing stories and insight.

7. How do young people react to a mental illness in the family? VIDEO > Mini Doc Clip XII “Impact on Youth” (6:43) TEXT > Family Stories in Text: “An Adult Too Soon”, “One Hundred Years of Experience” The Road to Recovery for Families: “Growing up with a Parent…”

When a family is affected by mental illness, it is confusing, stressful and upse[ng to everyone. Young people can especially be affected – some@mes due to lost support and a\en@on and also because the stress is intense, yet the silence, some@me well-‐meaning, creates a vacuum where guesses are subs@tuted for facts. Young people need informa@on, understanding, discussion and ways to address their concerns – or the ramifica@ons can be very serious, for many years. Note – we will be crea@ng new video resources for TEENS, so please check our video gallery oWen. SEE OVER >>>>

discussion guide for educators & groups

8. What about family members? Do they need to care for their OWN health? Why? How?

VIDEO > The Journey Home Part 3 or Mini Doc Clip 9 “Finding a Balance” (9:47) Or Family Interview: Sabrina (3:42) TEXT > The Road to Recovery for Families: “SupporIng Families – the 4 C’s, the 7 A’s” Family Stories in Text: “A Daughter’s Midlife Vantage Point The Road to Recovery for Families: “The Recovery Approach: Caring for the Caregiver”

Most family members focus on caring for their loved one, or the impact of their illness. They oWen lose sight of how the situa@on is aﬀec@ng them, and that can lead to their own health or economic or social distress. SELF-‐CARE is the founda@on of recovery for everyone in the family.

9. What helped most in achieving recovery, or a new balance? VIDEO > The Journey Home Part 3 or Mini Doc Clip 10 “Turning Points” (7:47) Or Family Interview: Stuart (3:51), Or Family Interview: Terry Lee (2:58) TEXT > The Road to Recovery for Families: “SupporIng Families – the 4 C’s, the 7 A’s” The Road to Recovery for Families: “The Recovery Approach to Mental Wellness: > Wellness Family Recovery Plans > Caring for the Caregiver”

There are many factors that can lead to a mental illness, many aspects that aﬀected by a mental illness – and many elements that can help build the path back to recovery. Family members share their experiences, wisdom and insights. You may be surprised at what made a diﬀerence.

10. Is there happiness AFTER mental illness in the family? How? Is there a posiIve to experiencing a family mental illness?

VIDEO > The Journey Home Part 3 or Mini Doc Clip 11 “CompleIng the Journey” (7:25) Or Family Interview: Jane 1 (3:41) Or Family Interview: Corrine (4:02) Or “Family Video -‐ No Surrender Hockey Event” (6:31) TEXT > Family Stories in Text: “DemysIfying the S Word”, Family Guide Interview: “Karen”

Mental illness can be profoundly painful & difficult for those suffering and to their families. Many families experience a difficult road back, but one that oWen has surprising silver linings as well.

11. What should the future of family mental health look like?

EducaIon, culture, care, prevenIon – where do we go, how do we get there? VIDEO > Family Video Gallery: “Families Look Forward” TEXT > Family Stories in Text: “DemysIfying the S Word”

We will create the FUTURE of mental health culture and prac@ce. What do we need to do?

www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com

team

The Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery was created and produced by The Mission Media Company Inc. in Toronto. The Journey Home documentary and family video interviews were produced and directed by Stuart Clarﬁeld.

We thank the many generous par.cipants and crew that helped us make this project.

supporters & advisors Project advisors, supporters and project contributors have joined us from: Advisors & Par.cipants from: FAME CAMH Mood Disorders AssociaIon Schizophrenia Society of Ontario Family Outreach & Response Intl Schizophrenia FoundaIon Toronto Catholic District School Bd. University of Toronto

Project Sponsors & Supporters: FAME – Health Care Sponsor

Family AssociaIon for Mental Health Everywhere

RBC FoundaIon Canadian Indie Film & Video Fund Indiegogo – contributors The Turnbull Family Alana Richman / The Gold Family The Mission Media Company

The Family Guide project is Created & Produced by: THE MISSION MEDIA COMPANY

www.themissionmediacompany.com

Producer, Director: Stuart Clarﬁeld

our ﬁrst steps Oﬃcial site launch May 29th, 2014! Spread the word to families, educators & pracIIoners

Use the site, share our videos & text materials, set up screenings, join our online community! The Family Guide to Mental Health Recovery can be used by: •  Health pracIIoners, health organizaIons and community support organizaIons •  Schools & School boards -‐ to train teachers, help guidance counsellors and teach students •  Employee Assistance, Support & EducaIon for employee-‐family members •  FAMILY MEMBERS – directly on www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com •  FAMILY MEMBERS & organizaIons at our Family Guide pages on Twiper, Youtube and Facebookl

Our video materials have been piloted online at 60 universiIes in over 60 countries worldwide! We are now working with the Toronto Catholic District School Board to reach 6000 teachers and 93,000 students annually and plan to expand this across the GTA, Ontario and Canada. We currently have over 1700 Twiper followers world-‐wide and are dedicated to REACHING 1 MILLION FAMILY MEMBERS! in schools, support and care organizaIons, workplaces and by families sharing with families.

Remember – over 7 million Canadians, 70 million Americans & their families will face a mental illness. It will touch 1 BILLION of us worldwide. We are just now beginning to teach & reach out to families.

www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com

credits The Journey Home Documentary Producer/Director/Editor: Stuart Clarﬁeld

FAMILY GUIDE Website Produced by: Stuart Clarﬁeld Project Advisor, Educa.on Programs Dr. Maria Kokai TCDSB Chief Psychologist

Directors of Photography: Joshua Henderson / Rich Williamson

Web Site Built by Vivid Design: CreaIve Director Duygu Basmaci Architect & Programmer Norman Valdez Project Sponsor & Advisor, Family Support Programs ChrisIne Cooper, ExecuIve Director FAME Family AssociaIon for Mental Health Everywhere

project contact Project Producer, Educa.on, Media & Outreach Contact Stuart Clarﬁeld, The Mission Media Company 416.929.7464 familyguidetomentalhealth@gmail.com

end of guide