“I am extremely grateful to have been introduced to MECC and to be part of this specific MECC programme. I look forward to gaining more experience with MECC and hopefully one day play an integral part in how these programmes get developed and brought to life”.
How did you come across the opportunity of becoming a MECC for Mental Health trainer for the Stroke Care Pathway?
Very soon after joining the Integrated Community Stroke Team (ICST) – and noticing the mental health implications that strokes had on our patients, it was evident that we needed to maximize the amount of mental health support and guidance we can give to our patients. After discussing my thoughts with my team leader, she was well aware of my passion for mental health and immediately told me when the opportunity for MECC for Mental Health came along.
What made you decide to get involved in becoming a Lead Trainer for the Stroke Care Pathway?
I have always been very passionate about mental health and knew from experience as an OT that there is no health without good mental health. Holistically, our patients simply cannot thrive and attain optimal well-being without addressing their mental health concerns.
Alongside my passion for mental health, I have always had a keen interest in public health, specifically programme and policy development that would make a difference in peoples’ lives on a large scale.
The choice to join MECC for Mental Health as a Lead Trainer was quite an easy obvious choice for me, merging my passion for mental health and my passion for well-developed public health programmes that aims to change lives.
In your view what is the strategic case for MECC for Mental Health?
In my view mental health continues to carry a huge stigma. We, as professionals, either don’t know how to confidently broach the topic; or our patients do not feel comfortable enough to discuss this topic openly.
We are in a situation where majority of our stroke patients would benefit from mental health support, hence why it is so important to equip our front-line staff with the necessary tools to have these conversations and to do so effectively and in a way where patients feel supported and not interrogated.
How did you train to become a MECC for Mental Health trainer?
My initial contact was with Karan Thomas and Dawn Mitchell who put in so much effort to get to know me as an individual in order to support me effectively during training. I then joined two training days with a cohort of trainers where I got to observe Karan and Dawn train them. It was such a great experience seeing the content come to life and not only did I get to take home some top tips from top trainers, I also got to really reflect on how I, as a professional, broach the topic of mental health and how that influences how my patients respond to me and how comfortable they may feel to open up and be vulnerable.
How has MECC for Mental Health training impacted your ability to have mental health conversations with patients who have experienced a stroke?
The MECC for Mental Health training has greatly impacted the way in which I approach mental health conversations with patients. Most importantly, I have come to learn, that with all the best intensions in the world, the way we phrase things may not be helpful in certain situations. As therapist, we are constantly trying to problem solve and a hard-learn for me was realizing it wasn’t my place to solve peoples’ problems but that it was my place to effectively hold space for these individuals, to help them feel contained enough to navigate their own difficulties as well as signpost where needed.
Do you believe your MECC for Mental Health Training has helped someone who has experienced a stroke, if so how?
Yes, definitely. Very early on in the therapy process, during the assessment stages, we complete depression and anxiety screens as part of our outcome measures. My MECC for Mental Health Training has equipped me with the necessary skills to frame these assessments and provide a safe container for them to take place in. It has taught me how to complete my clinical assessments but still remain empathic, how to reflect/mirror the patients’ responses back to them and really observe them relaxing into the space, feeling safe and being vulnerable with their thoughts and feelings; in turn allowing me to signpost correctly and provide adequate support.
