The Mindfulness Response: Physical Needs, Home Environment & Homelessness

Chapter 2       Physical Needs, A Home & Homelessness, Advocacy

A Supportive Person is Necessary 

A supportive person is someone who can be non-judgmental and give frank responses to high levels of anxiety, paranoia, voices, or other psychosis symptoms. The supportive person can help with reality checks so that the individual can continue with their daily routine and learn to disregard the psychosis symptoms. The support person can advocate for a variety of treatment options or can help the individual advocate for themselves and be assertive with providers. Sometimes there are case managers from the county or region that can help with treatment, or legal systems are needed to establish guardianship, conservatorship, POA, Rep-payees, legal holds to be admitted for inpatient mental health treatment, or entry into outpatient treatment. To stabilize symptoms, a supportive person can help bridge the gap between the severe symptoms and treatment.

            A supportive person is needed and can advocate for a variety of treatment options. Sometimes legal systems are needed to establish guardianship, conservatorship, POA, Rep-payees, and legal holds to be admitted for inpatient mental health treatment or entry into outpatient treatment. To stabilize symptoms, a supportive person can help bridge the gap between the severe symptoms and treatment.

Who are the homeless people? They are students, young adults, veterans, and people working in lower-paying jobs. They may have lost their job and couldn’t afford to pay rent. They may be estranged from their families. They have lost ties with their safe family, due to divorce, relationship break-ups, substance abuse, and arguments. Some have a mental illness.

Healing, Recovery, and Stabilization

The group encouraged each participant to continue with their longer-term goals of work, college, job training, volunteer work, community classes, events, or help with family. Some were discouraged that life plans were interrupted by mental health, but the group said there was no reason that they could not pursue that same goal. It involved more team members and making some changes, but it was possible. The group talked about the importance of having multiple professionals to help and how lucky they were to get that support.

One participant told the group about their experiences over the years and how they were homeless, got sober, and found a job. They talked about their vocational rehabilitation worker who helped them find a job that was interesting for them and how it was working out well. Others talked about work programs, and job coaches that they had. One participant decided to stay sober, take medications, build concentration, and then return to college. Many do not have a permanent address to call home.

Homeless people need a permanent address to receive mail. Many do not have a permanent address. As a support person, finding this can help them regain their independence. This is needed to communicate with providers, government agencies, and other resources. Sometimes a shelter can provide a permanent address, a PO Box, or possibly a relative or friend.

My home

Permanent Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Residence, Group Home, Apartment______________________________________________________

Friend or Family _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Phone ______________________ Email ______________________________

Supportive person

Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Phone _____________________  Email ______________________________

Psychiatry (Doctor, PCP, Nurse Practitioner, Physician’s Assistant)

Name of clinic: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Name of Prescriber: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Phone _____________________  Email ______________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Physical Health / PCP (Primary Care Physician)

Name of clinic: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________________________

Name of PCP: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone _____________________   Email ______________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Therapist

Name of clinic: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________________________________________________

Name of PCP: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________

Phone ________________________  Email ___________________________

Others: case manager, rep-payee, vocational workers, visiting nurse

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________