A consumer’s perspective
As a patient with mental illness I would want you to look at my support structure and actively ask me if I would like to bring a friend, carer or support worker to the appointment when my mental health treatment plan is to be written. This will provide me with someone to actively listen, participate where perhaps I am not able to, remind me of what was said during the appointment, and assist me to maintain the plan. Understand that it is important to engage my support person so that they feel included in the process.
In the first instance, please check my physical wellness in case there are some contributing factors to my mental ill health. Please listen to any signs and symptoms I may be telling you about and do not dismiss them as due to my mental illness. Please ensure relevant tests take place to rule out other illnesses and put in place timely dates to remind me of the importance of my physical check ups.