MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR PSYCHIATRIST
ARAFMI CARER’S FORUM 2025
DR CHRISTIAN HEIM
LINK TO SLIDES FROM PRESENTATION
AIM TO TRUST EACH OTHER ON THIS TRIP
DOG and CAT
DOG. The overall principles. Drive, Other people, Goals.
Drive For things to get done, someone has to drive it. Often a carer. Organize, & push (not too hard, & not too little). If no one drives your wellness, we won’t get there
Other people: A support network of professionals, relatives, friends, & a dog or cat. Each has their role.
Goals: When you drive, where you are heading? Have daily/weekly/monthly/yearly goals to paint future pictures.
AND
And. The practicals. Appointments, Notebook, Drugs & Diagnosis & prognosis
Appointments: Don’t delay wellness, keep every appointment. Know dates, times and places. Write them down.
Notebook: Your ‘Wellness-Bible.’ Write things down, capture the info. Goals, contacts, appointments, monitor progress, meds & side-effects, a problems list, diagnosis & prognosis, instructions & questions. Know what helps? (to do more of it) & What doesn’t help? (to do less of it).
Drugs, Diagnosis & prognosis: Know what they’re supposed to take & how to take it & which drugs to avoid. Know the diagnosis & prognosis setting realistic goals.
CAT. The partnership. Care (for yourself), Accountability (for them), & Teamwork (together)
Care (for yourself): remember I am worth taking care of; To help others I need to care for myself; I want to move from guilt to duty to meaning to freedom. I deserve appreciation.
Accountability (for them): The aim, if possible, is full independence for your loved one. They need to be accountable to themselves. I love & support you; & your wellness is your responsibility.
Team Trust (together): You may not be able to trust your loved one or the illness. Still. Hold hope. Aim to be a team. Face reality together. Have difficult conversations. It’s you & me against this illness. We’re a team. Together we are stronger
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR PSYCHIATRIST
Psychiatrist or a case manager you need to talk to?
Knowing a psychiatrist’s role. An expert, backed up by other experts for diagnosis, prognosis, medications, and treatment planning and coordination. They also advocate for a patient’s rights. How do they handle information?
Helpful Attitudes. We’re all aiming to do our best. There’s no magic wand. Under-resourcing is the real problem. We’re a team. Communicate concerns. Someone needs to drive this.
Before an appointment. Use a calendar. Write observations & questions in your notebook. Discussed the appointment with your loved one.
In Appointments. Give. Take. Share. GIVE information: Your observations about symptoms & routines (eating, sleeping, socializing, activity, exercising) & their medication adherence, effectiveness, & side effects.
TAKE information by asking questions. What is the diagnosis & the prognosis? How severe is it? What can we expect? What else should we do? What’s the crisis plan? What should a good day look like for him? How much should I drive, how much do I foster independence? How should I respond without getting into conflict? How can I take care of myself?
SHARE decisions. Discuss medication, housing, socializing, daily structure, & goals. Have difficult conversations.
After appointments. Talk with your loved one. Put in an action plan. Reiterate goals. Hold hope. Together, be a trusting team.
Most importantly: Take care of yourself
Ask for appreciation
Find support & resources for yourself
Find meaning in a difficult situation
SIGN UP FOR INTERVIEWS FOR “HELP! MY SPOUSE/PARTNER HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS” HERE
If your spouse/partner has a diagnosed mental illness for 3+ years we would so appreciate your thoughts as a carer for our book. The survey will take around 15-20 minutes.
SURVEY LINK
Help! My Spouse/partner has a Mental Illness
If you do not have time for an interview, we are also conducting a survey:
resources
Emails (monthly emails from Dr Heim about mental health)