Supporting Families and Friends of Participants
Families and Friends play an important role in supporting people in their mental health journeys.
We are working to develop our services so that you feel welcomed, supported and informed about how Richmond Futures works and how people are supported on their recovery and wellbeing journey.
We understand your role in a person’s life and believe that:
- having a strong network of support aids recovery and wellbeing;
- you have a right to be aware of the supports being provided by Richmond Futures, contribute information and ideas on what may be useful moving forward and to be involved in supporting the persons recovery and wellbeing journey; and
- you may also experience changes in your life when a person you care about becomes unwell and may also need support.
Working Together With You
As our role is to support the loved one in your life, it is always their choice as to the level of involvement a family member or friend has in their support with Richmond Futures. Family members and friends are always welcome to contact Richmond Futures to discuss any concerns you may have or information you believe we should know – however, your loved one’s right to privacy and confidentiality means we may not always be able to share information with you.
We recognise the importance of your role in a person’s life and are committed to continually working to improve our practice to support the person and yourself. Our current focus is to:
- create an environment where you feel welcomed and supported;
- understand how you would like to be involved in the person’s recovery and wellbeing journey;
- listen to your needs; and
- where possible, work together with the person and yourself.
Lived Experience and Carer Advisory Group
Richmond Futures value the experience and knowledge of those who have a lived experience of mental illness and their family members.
We recognise that informed and active participation will result in the development and implementation of policies and programs that are more specifically targeted to meeting people’s needs.
The Lived Experience and Carer Advisory Group (LECAG) commenced in mid 2020 with the aim of gaining specialised knowledge from people with lived experience to enhance and improve the policies, procedures and practices of Richmond Group.
LECAG works with the organisation to:
- Provide strategic guidance and advice
- Provide advice on matters of importance to participants and their families.
- Facilitate effective communication between Richmond Futures and those accessing services and / or those supporting them.
- Develop robust mechanisms of collecting and collating information and feedback from participants.
- Provide ongoing monitoring of the changing needs of participants, recommend changes to service delivery according to the identified needs assist in the evaluation of outcomes of the service improvements.
The LECAG currently consist of five members largely comprising of participant representatives.
To express your interest in joining the LECAG call (03) 6169 1188 or email adelej@richmondtas.com.au or you can fill out the LECAG Expression of Interest Form.
Useful Supports for Carers
Mental health families & friends TASMANIA (formerly Mental Health Carers Tasmania (MHCT)) – MHFFTas’ mission is to promote and improve the wellbeing of carers of people affected by mental ill health through support and education. MHFFTas provides a great range of resources and information for carers across Tasmania.
Mental Health Services Helpline. Call the Helpline for mental health advice, assessment and referral: 1800 332 388.
You may want to call the Helpline when you or someone you know is:
• showing obvious changes in mood
• behaving in a disorganised manner
• seeing things that aren’t there
• hearing voices
• expressing strange thoughts
• very anxious and fearful
• expressing suicidal ideas or thoughts.
Department of Health – Information for consumers, families and carers
Your Say, Advocacy Tasmania work with older people living with disability or mental health issues and people who use alcohol or drugs.
Free call: 1800 005 131or if you are from interstate or using a mobile: (03) 6224 2240.
Text: 0457 806 963 or email: contact@yoursaytas.org
National Standards for Mental Health Services
The National Standards for Mental Health Services have been developed to be applied across the broad range of mental health services. It is anticipated that the Standards will be a ‘living document’ that will further evolve as services progressively strive to meet relevant and expected standards of care.
Let Us Know What You Think
We encourage you to continue to provide feedback to Leaders at individual at our programs, or through the form below regarding your experiences in any of these areas so that we can continue to improve the services we provide.
If you have concerns about the supports your loved one is receiving, or if something happens, it is important that you talk to us. Richmond Futures welcomes your feedback and we are always willing to work with you to improve our services and better understand your loved one’s needs. You can provide feedback by:
• Speaking with an employee in person or over the phone: (03) 6228 3344.
• Sending an email to: admin@richmondtas.com.au
• Lodging a compliments, complaints and feedback form: https://rft.org.au/about-compliments-complaints-and-feedback/