365 Project

[Mazarita]

Hi @PeppiPatty. Yes, @Jacques is right. Pictures posted to the forum always take a little bit of time to come through. But I can see your picture now, I like it.  It seems sometimes the way that dark moments can be highly creative too. Best wishes with your new resolve to access some support again through ARAFMI. Yes, my peer mentor does a similar job to @WombatBoots I think. She is a 'PHaMs' worker.

Hi @Jacques. Thanks for your kind message that included me earlier. It's great to think that us being here is helpful to you. I'm glad you are here with us too. 

[PeppiPatty]

It's difficult here to be a Phams worker.

I was able to employ a phams worker for my hub. 3 years ago and it really really was good. I must get onto that again not just for him but me too.

Thanks for the compliment on pic. 

[Former-Member]

What is phams?

Today I'm so grateful for the wonderful departmental housing person I spoke with on the phone today!! We might have a house in the new year 😍

[PeppiPatty]

Dear @Former-Member

In western Australia is people with lived experience working with people with lived experience.

IS your housing person about public housing?

If it is, can I write some pionters for you?

Love PP

[Mazarita]

@Former-Member 

PHaMs is 'Personal Helpers and Mentors Scheme' and is a national thing. It provides peer support workers to people with 'severe and persistent' mental illness to help us become more connected to the community and just generally improve our lives. It's offered through various community agencies around Australia. This is how I connected with it:

. My psychiatrist advised me to contact 'Partners in Recovery', who did an initial assessment of me over the phone. Here's a link that may be helpful to South Australia: http://mhcsa.org.au/partners-in-recovery

. I was then put on a waiting list for the PHaMs scheme

. It took a couple of months for anyone to get back to me and I then had a call on from a worker at the local agency that runs the PHaMs scheme

. Two PHaMs workers came to my flat to meet me and discuss my situation. This was also an assessment of whether services could be provided to me.

. Within a week of that I had a peer support worker assigned to me.

From here I've been told it's an ongoing scheme until I (and probably also the agency that provides the services) decides that this assistance is no longer needed. 

I am finding it great so far. 

[Former-Member]

No it's not pp it's gov teacher housing as I have a job for next year. 😄

I have a support worker who comes and visits, sometimes by appointment or as needed at times. It was organised (very slowly) after I got out of hospital. Not sure if that is part of phams or not 🙂 but I'm so glad I have her!

[PeppiPatty]

You never atop surprising me darling @Former-Member : I can only promise you that your children will remember this and will tell you when they about 23 years old.

Can you keep a file with coloured tabs to keep like a progress chart ? Take photos of you, your pets, they will LOVE looking at them when they are older.

You know what I think about mothers. I am very open with my sons ; when you both were ..... Years old, I lost my mind. I was very ill. But I got better. I am so sorry if I did something wrong ...... You can ask me anything you want.

At 22 years old, one of my sons had a psychosis and when I flew over to see him he said ' I remember what Dad did to you. But I was prepared and told him that it was never his fault.

[PeppiPatty]

So oh...... You a you know ..... People can take notes and be inspired by you

[Mazarita]

@Former-Member Sounds similar at the least, glad to hear you have support like this too. 

[Bill16]

Wot up peeps , I'm in the mood for some extreme lawnmowin action.have a cracking day all