As the end of the year approaches, I always like to look back and reflecting on all the events, issues and behaviours, consider all my relationships to make sure I am focused on “what I am contributing” rather than “what can I get”, another important “pillar” for me is respect and I like to ponder on my contribution and impact on others. The final piece of my internal review is perspective, are some of the things I am thinking about important? Do they have impact? Am I looking at the right elements to look at?
The last series of exercises I think about are the achievements over the year, what I want to stop doing, what I want to continue doing and what I want to start doing, I find this a really nice process to celebrate the successes and focus on the next year.
During this years reflection I thought landed on a person who I have had a series of conversations with, I know they have had a series of poor mental health events, they have ended up as an inpatient, see qualified practitioners and is striving to lead a balanced life with positive psychological health.
This is not an unremarkable story for many, and as we know, these outcomes can be more prevalent in certain industries. At some stage my friend asked me, due to my background working closely with Injury Management and Mental Health if I thought it could be a good idea to contact his employer to see if they could provide any assistance as he considered his industry background as a contributing factor.
I supported his decision and continue to support him; on a follow up conversation he told me the person he spoke to in the industry accepted what he said, he received a call the next day from his case manage to make contact and get some brief details and the insurer contacted him the following day to let him know his claim would be approved and outlined the process.
I know there are people with extremely poor experiences who enter this process I believe this story should be told because we seldom get the good news stories, upon talking to my friend I am led to believe they did not make a claim initially due to the long stubborn tail of what is referred to as “mental health stigma”, also from the conversation the most powerful message this person told me was it was not about the money or access to services, but it was the way in which the people they dealt with accepted and validated what they said and what they had been going through, just this action has made a profoundly effect.
Next year, lets all think about how we interact with people, be available, really listen and err on the side of belief rather than challenging and scepticism, sure there are system gamers out there but lets support the majority and deal with the minority.