WHATEVER
The info guide for young people
with mental health problems
CONTENTS:
1. Your first day
2. Practical stuff
3. Rights and responsibilities
4. My Daily Journal
5. Safety plan
6. Leaving hospital
7. Things To Stop You Getting Bored
This book belongs to:
Acknowledgements
Prepared by:
Teri Stone (CNC) based at Hunter New England Area Health Service.
Kris Taylor (CNS) based at Gosford Hospital.
Clinical Consultation & Artistic direction:
Monique Newson (RN) and Martin Losurdo (CNS)
based at Hunter New England Area Health Service.
Other people who have made this possible:
Edele Bignell
Jill Valdar
Whatever Info Guide
MH-Kids
HRS Building, John Hunter Hospital
Locked Bag 1
HRMC NSW 2310
Tel. (02) 49855830
Fax. (02) 49855320
This work is copyright. This document may be reproduced in whole for clinical use,
study and training proposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the
source. It may not be reproduced for commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for
purposes other than those indicated above requires written permission from
MH-Kids.
Copyright© 2008 MH-Kids, NSW Health.
First Edition March 2008
To obtain further copies please contact the
Better Health Centre Publications Warehouse on Ph: 9816 0452
Welcome
This info guide is written for you. It will explain some of the reasons why you are in
hospital, and what will be happening while you are here. It will also show you some
activities to do with your family or carers or with the nurses while you are in here.
The guide should be read as soon as possible because it has heaps of useful stuff to
help you to settle in.
The first part includes stuff to help answer some questions many young people have,
like - why am I here, is it safe, who can I talk to and what’s going to happen from
here? It will also help you plan your days with stuff you like to do so that it will not
be too boring.
When you see this symbol
there is an activity for you to do – it is good if
you can talk about it with your nurses after you have finished it..
there is a picture for you to colour to help
When you see this symbol
make this info guide your own. You can start with the picture below.
Please give
me some
colour?
“Whatever” Info Guide
3
Your First Day
Your first day may seem a little odd or scary or you may even be annoyed about
being here. Things may seem strange, especially if this is your first time in hospital.
The nurses on the ward will make every effort to help you settle in and feel more
comfortable and much of the day will be taken up meeting new people
People come to hospital in all sorts of ways. What was it
like for you?
Questions that most
young people want to
know...
Why am I
here?
Although different for different people, the main reason for you being here is
because people have been concerned about your safety and wellbeing.
You are here also because you and/or other people have been concerned about your
mental health. You might have noticed some changes in your thinking or your
feelings or you might have been behaving differently. It could be that you have
been very unhappy or sad for some reason or you might have been scared about
some unusual things that have been happening to you recently.
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4
What’s going to happen while I’m here…?
While you are here people will want to talk to you about what
has been happening recently. This is a good opportunity to talk
about things that have been upsetting or frightening you or
things that have just been difficult.
If I’m really worried who can I talk to…?
All the staff want to make this a safe place for you and it is
natural to have concerns or worries. If you are feeling concerned
about anything you can talk to any of the staff.
Can I trust them...?
This is a great question that many of the young people we see
think about when they are admitted to hospital. It is essential for
you to know that the staff on the ward work together as a team
to find out what is best for you. We would like you to feel OK
to talk about anything that is important to you.
To help answer this question it is important for us to talk about confidentiality.
Confidentiality means that you can talk to the staff in confidence about many
things. The only things that we are unable to keep confidential are where we are
concerned about your safety or the safety of others.
Sometimes it can be hard to
remember questions you
were going to ask when one
of the health team sees you
Any questions…?
How long am I going to be here?
Why do I feel like this?
What do these tablets do?
When can I get visitors?
Any others?
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5
Who are the
people I’m going
to meet...?
Ask your nurse to help you with the names of your treating team:
Name:
“Whatever” Info Guide
What do they do?
6
Practical stuff
Who do you think will be visiting you...?
Is there anyone you would not want to visit you while you are
here...?
Are there any hospital rules about visiting times and who can
visit?
Meal times
Breakfast:
Morning Tea:
Lunch:
Afternoon Tea:
Dinner:
“Whatever” Info Guide
7
Valuables...
While you are in hospital
•
•
•
Your stuff is your responsibility.
If it’s valuable and you don’t need it, it may be best to give it to your parent
or guardian to keep safe
If you can’t do that you can store small valuables in the hospital’s safe.
Do you have any
valuables with you..? If so
what arrangements can we
make to keep your
valuables safe..?
Things you will need
while you are here...
The staff will need to check what you bring in, and be sure you can be safe with your
property. If the staff are worried about your safety, they can look after some of your
stuff for you, and give it back to you when you are ready.
You will need to bring or have brought in:
“Whatever” Info Guide
8
Rights and
responsibilities
Providing a safe place is important to the staff on the ward.
Your rights come with some responsibilities. – “It’s like being
able to give and take”.
Your Rights:
•
•
•
•
•
•
You have the right to feel safe at all times during your stay
To be told why you’re in hospital
To talk to staff about the care you receive
To have as much choice in your care as possible
To expect privacy and respect from those who care for you
To talk to staff about your feelings
Your Responsibilities:
•
•
•
•
•
To let the staff know if you feel unsafe
To give truthful information about yourself
To ask if you don’t understand something about your care
To follow the agreed treatment plan
To ensure that your actions do not scare or threaten others
These might sound a bit like rules and regulations in disguise
but they’re really quite different. Rules and regulations often
mean that you have to do something and do it a certain way;
whereas rights and responsibilities are there to protect
everyone and to ensure that everyone is treated with respect.
Are there any special rules on your ward? Ask your nurse.
“Whatever” Info Guide
9
Tests and Check ups…
While you are here it is important to check out both your physical and mental
health. You may need to have some tests and checks. These checks can help the staff
to find out more about what is happening and plan your care.
The staff will be able to explain these tests and will talk to you about any results.
Remember, for any of these you can have your parent or carer with you for support.
Is there anything you would like
to ask the staff, or have checked
out for you while you are here..?
Medication
As part of your treatment you may be asked to start taking certain medications.
Your doctor will explain to you what they are for and answer any questions you may
have, and will order these medications.
If you have any concerns about these medications the nurses and the doctor will be
happy to discuss them with you. You can ask for written information about your
medications.
The following table can be completed by your nurse and will explain the
medication/s and why you may have been asked to take them
Medications
Times
Reason
Have you any other questions?
“Whatever” Info Guide
10
My daily
Journal:
Writing stuff down is often helpful; it is good to keep a record of your day, like a
kind of diary. Other young people have said that a diary helped them to understand
how the way they thought could affect the way they felt and behaved. Doing this
also helps to keep track of the things that have happened and how they have made
you feel.
What happened today?
•
•
•
•
Ways of using your diary
to draw or write down your feelings
to record sad or funny things that happen
as a scrapbook to put in pictures or photos you like
to write stories and poems
You might also want to spend some time making the diary special for
you. Do you want to use pictures or symbols or colours to show how
you are feeling? What happened before you started to notice your
feelings? What were your thoughts about it?
What might you like on the cover of your diary?
Does it need to be kept safely?
“Whatever” Info Guide
11
How do I start?
It can be hard to start a diary especially talking about the way you feel. Once you do
start and get into it, you may find it really useful to sort through your feelings and
ways to deal with them safely.
Most of the time journals will be on paper and written in by yourselves but if you
have a laptop or a palm-pilot you can also use these.
The first step is to decide how you want your journal to look. The journal is yours to
make your own so you can colour it, decorate it, use your own graffiti to make it
special for you.
There is an example for you to start on below which will last a little while but then
you need to think about one which you can use when you go home.
Some stuff to start
Start each day with a face from the ones below that match how you feel for the
morning, midday or evening.
Aui
4tgd18
DXl
“Whatever” Info Guide
12
How About Some Colour?
It can be hard to write down how you feel. You might find it better to use colours
and faces. If you do find it easier to use colour try using the colours below and the
feelings that they suggest. Ask your nurse for some pens/pencils with the following
colour.
Use BLACK when you DON’T want to express your mood
in colours
Use BLUE when you feel down, sad, depressed
Use GREEN when you feel OK and contented
Use RED when you feel angry
Use PURPLE when you feel happy and look forward to
the future
Use ORANGE when you are confused and don’t know
how you feel
“Whatever” Info Guide
13
DAY Tuesday
DATE 1/2/07
TIME OF Morning
Woke up about 7am, felt OK till mum rang when I was having
breakfast
She’s always on my case and makes me pissed off
SAME DAY – LUNCHTIME
Jamie rang at lunch and he always cheers me up
Doctor Smith came to see me and help with the way I feel. I guess I’m OK
and can talk to the nurses later if I want
q
DAY
“Whatever” Info Guide
DATE
TIME OF DAY
14
DAY
“Whatever” Info Guide
DATE
TIME OF DAY
15
DAY
“Whatever” Info Guide
DATE
TIME OF DAY
16
My Safety plan
We need to understand how we can help you while you’re not feeling safe.
There are many reasons why people feel unsafe and everyone’s experience is
different. The following questions will assist you and the staff in the development of
a plan to deal with your feelings.
Things that make me feel safe…?
E.g. a quiet, calm place, my music, my family and friends, my medication, knowing
what’s happening to me.
Things that make me feel unsafe…?
E.g. not knowing what’s happening to me, feeling anxious, feeling sad, feeling angry.
Please give me
some colour?
“Whatever” Info Guide
17
How do I know when I’m becoming unsafe...?
What happens to my thoughts?
What happens to my feelings?
What happens to my actions ?(what do I do?)
What happens to my body?
“Whatever” Info Guide
18
How do others know when I’m becoming unsafe?
What would they see me do?
What would they hear me say?
What can I do to help myself?
There are things that many young people say help them to feel safe.
What works well for you?
What can the staff or others do to help me?
What could they say to help me?
“Whatever” Info Guide
19
Leaving
Hospital
There are heaps of things to think about when you are leaving hospital. Some young
people may find it difficult to leave.
In working with you and your family or carers we want you to be able to make some
choices about the plans for your ongoing care when you are discharged from
hospital.
When you leave hospital how will things be different?
Think about when you’re feeling better and what would be different – what would
you notice about your thoughts and feelings?
How can I keep myself safe?
Who can help me?
“Whatever” Info Guide
20
Working together on a
plan…
From your answers above we can start to build a picture of
what things will look like when things have improved…and
about the role you play and choices you make in this planning
process.
Here’s a challenge...! Think of the problem or crisis that brought you
into hospital. Talk with your nurse, doctor or family/friends. What
strategy could you use to stop this happening again…? (E.g. to develop
better coping skills, learn how to manage stress, be aware of the people that are able
to support you when feeling down)
What are your ideas about what is needed when you leave
hospital...?
What suggestions have the nurses, doctors, your family or friends
or other staff made...?
“Whatever” Info Guide
21
Talk about these ideas together and brainstorm a list that works
for you…
Out of this list highlight or underline the things for which you will
take responsibility. Eg “I will talk to mum if I feel unsafe”
What are other people responsible for…?
Name
Responsibilities
Contact number for Local Community Mental Health Team: ___
__________
My next appointment is with:
Name
“Whatever” Info Guide
Date
Time
22
If I am feeling unsafe
here are 5 people I can
ring …
Name:
Ph No:
Name:
Ph No:
Name:
Ph No:
Name:
Ph No:
Name:
Ph No:
“Whatever” Info Guide
23
Here are some other
numbers that may
be helpful.
GP
Local emergency department
Community worker
Kidsline
Lifeline
Youthline
Mental Health Information Service (12.30pm - 4.30pm
Monday – Friday)
Eating Disorders support and Information Line
Parent Line (9am – 4.30pm Monday – Saturday)
Relationships Australia
Salvo Care Line
Salvo Crisis Line
Salvo Youth Line
FPA Health (formerly Family Planning)
Drug and Alcohol Information Service
2010 – Support for Gay and Lesbian Youth (4pm –
midnight
HSC Advice Line (Open from mid October)
1800 55 1800
13 11 14
02 9633 3666
1300 794 991
02 9412 4499
13 20 55
1300 364 277
02 9331 6000
1300 36 36 22
02 9331 2000
02 9630 3000
1300 658 886
1800 422 599
1800 652 010 (outside Sydney)
02 8594 9555 (Sydney)
131112
Websites
Beyond Blue www.beyondblue.org.au
Kids Help Line www.kidshelp.com.au
Headroom: www.headroom.net.au
Moodgym: http://moodgym.anu.edu.au
Ybblue www.beyondblue.org.au/ybblue/
Reachout www.reachout.com.au/home.asp
Somazone www.somazone.com.au
Mental health consumers and carers www.nswcag.org.au
“Whatever” Info Guide
24
THINGS TO
STO P YO U
GETTING BORED
Take a few minutes to think about
what you usually do each day
Does it look like something like this?
Time
7.30am
8.00
8.30
3.30pm
3.40
4-6
6.00
7.00
9.30pm
School day
Get up and shower
Breakfast
Leave for school
Get home
Have snack
Homework and free time
Dinner
TV and computer games
bedtime
Now you have a go:
Time
Schoolday
“Whatever” Info Guide
Time
Weekend
25
What do you enjoy doing when you are at home?
Which of those things can you do while you are in hospital?
What other things could you do?
There may be some other activities you can do here such as
……...your nurse may have some other suggestions
“Whatever” Info Guide
26
Weekly Program
Spend some time with your nurse today putting together a daily plan for while you
are here. When you have finished, the plan can go at the end of your bed so
everyone can see it
Name:
Date:
Weekly Program
Time
Monday
“Whatever” Info Guide
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
27
Other ideas for when you are bored
Review
Just imagine you are a reviewer for a trendy teen
magazine. Watch a TV programme or a movie and
write a review for the magazine. This can be as
serious or funny as you like.
Write a
poem or a
song
Using all the letters
in your name, mix
them up to make
as many words as
possible
Invent a superhero
and write a cartoon
about him/her
Make birthday/Christmas cards for your
friends and family
“Whatever” Info Guide
28
Puzzles
How many animals can you find in the puzzle below?
E
F
F
A
R
I
G
R
A
B
B
I
T
P
R
G
E
L
O
M
O
L
A
F
F
U
B
J
E
A
O
H
L
E
Z
G
T
A
O
T
S
E
K
E
C
R
I
O
A
L
E
H
T
A
S
G
A
I
H
C
Dog
kangaroo
wombat
snake
bear
vole
wolf
rhino
koala
possum
dingo
“Whatever” Info Guide
F
P
Y
R
L
O
B
A
D
H
N
R
O
S
O
F
P
I
G
S
N
V
R
N
G
L
A
E
S
O
T
O
U
L
V
E
M
U
A
U
N
G
K
E
N
elephant
zebra
hippopotamus
elk
giraffe
lion
baboon
raccoon
stoat
camel
llama
panda
N
T
X
A
K
W
F
R
P
N
H
D
O
E
D
A
A
K
E
W
D
O
G
H
O
A
I
A
K
C
H
M
U
S
S
O
P
M
E
I
O
N
L
K
A
mole
gnu
bat
emu
kangaroo
goat
deer
tiger
cat
wombat
frog
mouse
P
U
A
M
A
L
L
B
B
L
N
G
A
A
M
E
S
U
O
M
C
M
F
A
A
C
O
T
Y
E
L
L
B
A
B
O
O
N
T
A
T
A
O
G
L
E
Z
K
T
I
G
E
K
T
Y
E
K
N
O
M
possum
horse
pig
fox
buffalo
rat
seal
monkey
rabbit
sheep
yak
29
How many sports related items can you find in the
puzzle below?
B
W
A
L
L
A
B
I
E
S
J
V
F
D
H
A
E
R
O
B
I
C
S
T
A
D
I
U
M
E
D
I
V
I
N
G
A
W
O
P
F
G
N
S
L
M
G
K
Z
B
I
A
I
K
C
K
W
A
K
M
WEIGHTS
SURFING
KNIGHTS
RUGBY
SAILING
HORSE
BADMINTON
VAULT
CAR
“Whatever” Info Guide
I
E
E
G
L
B
B
M
M
A
C
R
C
A
E
N
T
K
I
T
E
O
M
E
M
H
E
D
T
T
SQUASH
RUN
BIKE
TENNIS
WALLABIES
NRL
DIVING
GAME
NBL
T
E
N
N
I
S
W
I
A
P
E
S
R
E
T
O
G
I
R
B
Q
L
N
E
I
S
T
I
B
N
N
O
G
L
A
U
S
G
T
N
S
L
N
O
D
H
L
H
U
L
A
F
L
S
G
O
E
K
A
C
KITE
SOCCER
WRESTLE
CAMPING
FISHING
HELMET
CHESS
BALL
GOLF
T
F
T
V
L
S
U
R
F
I
N
G
R
R
A
C
E
S
R
O
H
S
U
A
U
L
T
F
D
R
O
H
F
I
S
H
I
N
G
G
S
R
V
D
T
W
E
I
G
H
S
S
O
Q
H
O
C
K
E
Y
AFL
BOWLS
DARTS
STADIUM
FUN
SKATEBOARD
AEROBICS
SWIMMING
30
Now have a go at doing your own puzzle (see if the night nurses can
solve it!)
“Whatever” Info Guide
31
Scramble Puzzles
Can you unscramble this list of pets?
Pyupp
Smheart
Knitet
Slohdfig
Can you unscramble this list of blue items?
Siri
Talboc
Ysk
Phaseirp
Can you unscramble this list of dangerous animals?
Riget
Sumoptppihoa
Eksna
Ocordecil
Can you unscramble this list of sports?
Llesabab
Coescr
Lletban
Stenin
Can you unscramble this list of Australian cities?
Nearibbs
Hpter
Wardin
Dedealai
Can you unscramble this list of TV programs?
Wrdoh
Rheogiubns
Stol
Othce
“Whatever” Info Guide
32
These puzzles represent expressions in common use.
Solve them by noting position of the words in the frame. They can be under, over,
mixed-up, under or oversized
CALL/YOU
COME
pig
pig
pig
DRUG+ICT
1DER
Stand
I
Naked
Grizzly
T
O
W
N
Chat
__
lunch
EGSG
DKI
SEGG
GESG SGEG
i
DNAH
8
His iii
tomorrowday
secret
NE141OS
TEEN
TEEN
TEEN
TEEN
SPIEKY
Strokes
STROKES
Strokes
Strokes Strokes
pocholeket
GETAR
T
ONE
OOO
S
B.A. Ph.D.
M.Ed. B.Sc.
GUESS
COST
4tune
C U L8R
AL E G8R
Strokes
There are heaps more puzzles, quizzes and games on:
http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/Games/index.html
http://www.edupics.com/
“Whatever” Info Guide
33
Here is a hard one!!
You have to work out what the letters mean. See No.0 as an example.
See how well you do.
No Cryptic
Answer
0
24 H in a D
24 Hours in a Day
1
26 L of the A
2
7 D of the W
3
7 W of the W
4
12 S of the Z
5
66 B of the B
6
18 H on a G C
7
5 T on a F
8
90 D in a R A
9
3 B M (S H T R )
10
32 is the T in D F at
which W F
11
3 W on a T
12
100 C in a D
13
12 M in a Y
14
13=UFS
15
8 T on an O
16
29 D in F in a L Y
17
365 D in a Y
18
13 L in a B D
19
52 W in a Y
20
9 L of a C
21
60 M in a H
22
23 P of C in the H B
23
64 S on a C B
24
6 B to an O in C
25
1000 Y in a M
26
15 M on a D M C
“Whatever” Info Guide
34
F
eedback
Feedback
We want to get this info guide right!
Please let us know what you thought of this info guide
Circle the number that best describes your experience
How old are you?
How long were you in hospital?
The info guide helped me to understand
what was going to happen in hospital?
male ( ) female ( )
The info guide activities helped me to
understand and cope with my feelings
I found the language in the info guide
easy to understand
The info guide was boring
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
strongly agree
agree
undecided
disagree
strongly disagree
strongly agree
agree
undecided
disagree
strongly disagree
strongly agree
agree
undecided
disagree
strongly disagree
strongly agree
agree
undecided
disagree
strongly disagree
The best bit of the info guide was:
The worst bit of the info guide was:
Is there anything else we should have included?
If kids your age had to come to this ward, what would be important for them to
know? What would help them to have a good stay in here? What would be in a
leaflet to help other kids?
Thanks heaps for answering this questionnaire
Please return it to your allocated nurse
“Whatever” Info Guide
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Doodle Page
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