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MON
RO’ES KIDZ CLUB HELPS LUCY COPE…..
Lucy
is a 9 year old middle child with siblings that have mental illness
and a mother with depression. Lucy attended Kidz Club
initially presenting with great resentment because of the time her
mother had to spend with her siblings and the energy her mum lacked
to spend time with her. She did not understand her brother
and sister nor did she care. She had also been to many different
counselling services and was known to the Child & Youth Mental
Health Services. She was a very angry and conflicted young
girl.
Through
Kidz Club she learnt what mental illness meant especially that of
her siblings, skills to identify when they were becoming unwell and
coping strategies for example, who she could call, what she needed
to know and how to tell someone she needed help. Lucy also
became aware that she was not alone and there were other kids just
like her that shared her struggles.
The
friendship and support of the group gave her the confidence to
receive extra personal assistance, mentoring and family
intervention assistance from the Mental Health Carers Support
Service. Staff worked on how to communicate her frustration
without fighting physically or verbally, she had the confidence in
knowing that what she did with her support worker was just between
them and that it is ok to talk about things. She also learnt
that is was ok to be angry with her family, but that mental illness
is unpredictable but controllable.
Lucy
was able to learn many strategies and relaxation techniques and is
now able to manage her stress, anger, and frustration. She no
longer resents her family but embraces their differences.
Lucy is now on a maintenance program where she
only comes and sees her support workers when she needs them, but
she is secure in the knowledge that they are there whenever she
needs them.
Note:
The real names of clients have not been used to protect their
confidentiality and privacy
IMPACT Make Your Mark
106 - 108 Bargara Rd
PO Box 694
BUNDABERG QUEENSLAND
4670
Phone: (07) 4153 4233 or 1800 179 233
Fax: (07) 4153 1181
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