Promoting and Facilitating Self-Advocacy: CHCMHS008 Mental Health

This essay examines the importance of self-advocacy for individuals with mental health challenges, particularly in the context of a patient seeking discharge from a psychiatric hospital to join a mood disorders day program. It emphasizes the patient's right to make their own choices and decisions, highlighting the need for self-assessment and the ability to demonstrate the will and strength to make informed decisions. The essay also explores alternative self-advocacy options like supported decision-making and assertive technology, while identifying challenges psychiatric patients face, such as stigmatization and substance abuse. Planning for self-advocacy involves building self-confidence and understanding one's rights, with considerations for entering a day program including mental stability and a strong support system. The essay further discusses practicing self-advocacy, resources like support groups and financial assistance, the importance of keeping medical records, and provides an example of self-advocacy promotional material.

CHCMHS008 Promote and Facilitate Self Advocacy1
CHCMHS008 Promote and Facilitate Self Advocacy
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Introduction
Self –Advocacy is the ability of individuals with mental or psychiatric challenges to be
self-sufficient. This means they are able to make their own choices and decisions. Research has
proved that confining patients with psychiatric conditions limits their quality of life and
productivity. Self-Advocacy empowers patients to speak on their own behalf and make positive
changes in their lives. This restores human dignity while reaffirming the principle of the basic
Human right of choice. Individuals have a right to choose how best to live their lives. Despite
psychiatric challenges, patients have been guided how to properly reach out for help when need
be. The individual who requested to leave the psychiatric hospital and join the hospitals' mood’s
disorders day program would be advised to do self-assessment and identify the issues that
brought the psychiatric condition.Self-Advocacy entails first knowing what you want from your
life. How you want to live. The individual seeking to be discharged from the hospital should first
explain his objectives in life. Despite having friends and family to contact when in need, patients
are required to demonstrate they have the will and strength to make decisions that won’t hurt
them.
Alternative Self-Advocacy options
Supported Decision Making
Individuals with psychiatric challenges are guided in making important decisions in their
lives. This may involve career choices, healthy options, and financial options. Still, the ultimate
decision is with the patient.
Assertive Technology

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There are technological advancements that aid individuals with psychiatric challenges.
For example, in speech articulation and memory reminders are some of them among several
more others.
Identifying the Issue
The issue is that the patient is being denied to leave the facility and have self-advocacy.
According to the patient’s history of attempted suicide, the hospital feels the patients is not yet
ready (Goodley, 2011). Also the fact that he is staying alone he can be a danger to himself. Also,
the patient didn’t state other forms of self-advocacy to be used in cases of emergencies apart
from contacting family and friends.
Helping an Individual Identify Unmet Needs
The individual should be allowed to make personal choices. From this choices, it will be
very easy to know which ones have been met and to what extent. Also from personal expression
and speech, one can see a satisfied and content individual or the opposite.
Challenges Psychiatric Patients Face
There are many challenges individuals with psychiatric challenges face; the most
common one is stigmatization. Discrimination makes it impossible for individuals to openly seek
help. Substance abuse and alcoholism is also a very big challenge. Most patients also lack
insurance covers and finances for treatment.

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Planning for Self-Advocacy
Individuals have to believe and have self-confidence. Empowering patients with the
knowledge that they have rights like any other human being. The easier it is to plan for self-
advocacy. There are many approaches for planning for self-advocacy but it must start from
having self-confidence and knowing that as a human being everyone has a right to choose. Then
be assertive in choosing how to live in a productive manner.
Reasons for Entering the Day Program
Individuals who have already completed their clinical medication may be admitted to the
day program (Wehmeyer, 2014). A patient also has to prove that they are reasonably mentality
stable, able to control their moods and emotions. Individuals who have strong support systems at
work and home will be easily admitted to moods disorder program.
Helping an Individual Practice Self-Advocacy
Empowering the individual to be assertive and believe in himself and his actions. This
can also be emphasized in getting facts right on what the individual wants to accomplish in life.
Having a clear thought out plan of action, broken down into actionable steps helps in self-
advocacy.
Resources for Self-Advocacy
• Support groups moderated by a professional would guide individuals with psychiatric
challenges to adapt better coping mechanisms. Through sharing their different
experiences they learn and appreciate their challenges.

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• Financial assistance helps patients with psychiatric diseases since most of them are not in
a position to work.
• Provision of supportive literature and promotional materials. This helps patients with
additional knowledge and skills to deal with challenges.
Records Individuals Should Keep
Medical records are very important to keep. Also keeping a daily journal of activities
helps in monitoring and evaluating healing progress. Records of any changes in appetite, sleep
disorders or severe mood swings and anger.
Example of self-advocacy promotional material, work sheet
I am resilient in the following fields…………………………………………………..
My biggest challenges are………………………………………………………………..
My best inspiration in life is………………………………………………………………
The best part of my day…………………………………………………………………..
I need help in the following areas………………………………………………………..
This is how I need to be helped when in need……………………………………………

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References
Goodley, D., 2011. Empowerment, self-advocacy, and resilience.Journal of Intellectual
Disabilities, 9(4), pp.333-343.
Wehmeyer, M.L., Agran, M. and Hughes, C., 2014. Teaching self-determination to students with
disabilities: Basic skills for a successful transition. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., PO
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624.