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The Wall |
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PAINTING A NEW PICTURE
A Midas Dual Disorders project based on Adult Learning and Community Development principles to strengthen community action. This program was accepted for inclusion at the Winter THEMHS Conference, Bribane, June 2001 where it was presented by Sonia Mahs The Painting A new Picture Project was developed by Sonja Mahs (AOD Counsellor Fairfield community Health Centre) and Julie Kruss (Diversional Therapist – Fairfield/Liverpool Mental Health Services Leisure Club~Julie has since moved on a new position ) to develop more effective ways of working with people living with a mental illness who also used alcohol and/or other drugs (AOD). Previous initiatives targeting this group of mental health care consumers ("Consumers") had not been successful in engaging the people most at risk, particularly the precontemplators. We wanted to find innovative ways of providing opportunities for people to identify and explore their AOD use within a supportive and non-stigmatising environment. By working with consumers to identify and build on their own knowledge we hoped to develop and support a foundation for future initiatives informed by consumers themselves. With this in mind, the project was divided into 3 separate, interlinking stages The first stage provided a forum to share and collate knowledge held by consumers on dual disorder issues. In particular, we were interested in:
Consumers were given the option of being interviewed in small discussion groups or individually and were paid a fee of $20.00 in acknowledgment of their expertise, knowledge and participation. The second stage was designed to develop, expand and express the ideas identified in stage 1 with the possible outcome of an art piece or series of art pieces which reflected the knowledge and experience of the group. A fall off in numbers and interest made this stage, designed to run over a series of weeks, the most challenging to date. It required a significant amount of reflection and review, resulting in a decision to summarise the knowledge gained in the first stage under the following headings: What does trouble look like? What does help look like? What are the barriers to asking for/getting help? What are the attractions of AOD use? This was summarised and recorded on cards by the project workers and used as a focal point for discussion and further exploration. Consumers were invited to participate in focus groups using the cards as a tool to describe their own experience. They were encouraged to look for cards that resonated with their own knowledge and place these on a piece of fabric depicting a 'wall'. They were also invited to add new cards if the material did not reflect their own ideas or experience. This strategy proved a significant tool in regaining people's interest and involvement in the discussions. The cards became the cornerstone of the final art piece. Using the metaphor of a wall built of oversized cardboard bricks, the ideas of Trouble and Barriers to help are depicted on the bricks of the wall , with stars to show Attractions to AOD use. Help is repsesented by "helping hands" which reach through a break in the wall. A pamphlet depicting the wall scenario was developed so that all who view the wall can have their own copy. The pamphlet also contains referral information. A series of workshops was conducted at the Liverpool Leisure Club during which consumer volunteers constructed the wall for the 3rd and final stage of the project. This third stage aims to reorient health services to the needs of consumers by communicating the findings of the project to service providers. Consumers were encouraged to consider who they want to view the wall, and where and in what way they want it to be seen. The formal unveiling of The Wall by Professor Ian Webster (Director of Population Health) was attended by a range of interested people including representatives from mental health, AOD services, Transcultural Mental Health, and Early Intervention teams. They were addressed by Consumers and the project development team, and the mural will now be displayed in local supermarkets, Mental Health Leisure Clubs and Acute Mental Health Units. It is proving to be a valuable discussion for health care providers and consumers, opening up significant dialogue between then.. |
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Project outcomes so far include: |
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