Week 4 - Tiaho Mai inpatient Mental Health based at Middlemore Hospital - Systems used.

 


Week 4

This week, I was placed in Ti Aho Mai Mental Health, working with individuals hospitalized under Section 13 of the Compulsory Assessment and Treatment Act 1992 for up to 14 days (Ministry of Health, 2024). During my time in Wards 40 and 41, I shadowed the social worker covering both wards.

An Alcohol and Drugs facilitator was working with whaiora (patients) on understanding the effects of substance use on overall health. The patients present had stable mental health, which allowed them to participate actively in these sessions. We also explored alternative methods to support their well-being, including Rongoā Māori. I explained how trauma can be stored in muscles and how mirimiri (massage) can help release built-up tension, as well as the benefits of wairua (spiritual) sessions for addressing emotional pain.

In a family meeting with a Sri Lankan family, we faced a language barrier. Although an interpreter was present, they spoke a different dialect from the family, leading to some confusion. The outcome was that the patient would stay in the hospital, and the father was advised to file for a parenting order due to concerns about the mother’s treatment of their 10-month-old child, including food deprivation.

I also attended a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting where we reviewed each patient’s status and discharge plans. It became evident that not all patients were assessed by a social worker, and some lacked community support upon discharge.

It was suggested that a team be assigned to help whaiora connect with community services to ensure they know how to access ongoing support. Competency 2 was evident in the social worker’s practice, showing effective engagement with different ethnicities, respectful communication with the interpreter, and asking relevant questions. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly in addressing negative practices and refining our approach.

The mental health systems (technology) in New Zealand are different from general health databases for several key reasons, primarily due to the unique nature of mental health care, privacy concerns, and the distinct treatment and support needs of individuals experiencing mental health issues. Such as the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act and requires more personalized care involving multi-disciplinary teams. Stigma around mental health means data is handled with extra sensitivity. However, this does make things difficult when a patient is admitted into general care and the patient file states alerts of mental health but no further information. You are then required to request for further information which can be time consuming and detrimental to the care of patient if presenting with Mental Health distress.


Comments

  1. Elias Martis28 November 2024 at 20:33

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Elias Martis28 November 2024 at 20:35

    This week you were expected to identify and review the practice issues and critique the role of technology within the organisation. Clearly identifying one or two practice issues and critiquing the role of technology would have added value.

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