[Kat605]

Hi everyone.
Just thought I'd introduce myself. I'm 27 years old girl. Deal with depression anxiety and PTSD. Also am totally blind. Was on here a year or so ago under a different account from an e-mail address that can no longer be accessed. So I made a new account. Anyway It's good to see old names and new ones.
One thing I feel that is unique about my situation now that I can share with people is that I've been living in a long-term facility for people with mental illness since november 2013. So I have a very different experience of therapy than outpatient or IP. I've also had five or six IP stays since I was on here before so if anyone wants to vent/ has questions about psych unit life I'm here too. And just to listen. And make more connections we all need as much support as we can get.

[ruh roh]

Hi Kat. I agree. We all need as much support as we can get. I'm interested in your experience of therapy in a LTC facility. And, most importantly, if they are helping you to move out.

[Kat605]

Hello.
Yes would be glad to answer t your questions. Well first of all. Everyone gets a case manager. This is their point person at the facility if they have needs or anything the case manager or PRC helps them with it. This could be geting things like a public transportation card, communicating with family, and any number of things. Unfortunately many residents smoke heavily and PRCS often have to manage money and cigarettes. This can get annoying I'm sure for staff but important for residents that struggle with it. Each resident has a care plan. This is a specific plan with what their treatment issues are and goals. It's reviewed every three months and anually.
They do have groups called psychosocial groups. These are things like depression, anxiety, music, relaxation, safe smoking, mania management, understanding voices ETC. I did try the groups here. I did not like it due to many of the residents being so out of touch with things that they could not participate well in the group. I also believe a bigger problem was the staff who lead, again the PRSCS just not knowing how to lead groups. However I have been since then going to different day treatment programs. If you're not attending groups they absolutely encourage stuff outside the facility. I think they'd encourage that anyway. You can go to school or part time work while there. As I said everytime the care plan is reviewed they check or uncheck a box about discharge. It's something individual to each person. But yes case managers do help those who want to move out do so. There are many community programs that specifically come to facilitys like mine to let others know about the program. They have all kinds of services transitional groups, case management ETC. But along with that PRCS absolutely do help residents with finding apartments and as I said preparing people.
In the coming years they're hoping to change to a model that's under the mental health department rather than public health. This would allow them to have more specific services in a lot of ways including a transitional unit specific for those thinking of moving out. They stay three or four months and practice independent living in a controled setting. I hope this answers some questions for you.