Awareness of Self in Communication

This is a handout to encourage students / helpers to reflect on their interpersonal communication with a preceptor with a view to increasing their self-awareness.

Constructing a care plan using the nursing process

I have never been overly fond of the 'nursing process' but concede that learning and practicing this linear problem solving process can be particularly helpful for students. If they are required to complete these care plans as part of their roles then they might as well construct them logically.

Coping with voices

This is a handout that I sometimes give out during 'hearing voices' workshops. It provides some practical 'evidence based' guidance on some things that may help people control aspects of the voice hearing experience or give some relief to particularly intrusive voices.

Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Questionnaire

I use this to encourage discussion around mediating factors that affect stressful life events. Most people agree that it isn't simply the accumulation of life events that might predispose someone to ill-health, rather issues such as appraisal of meaning, how an experience is shared, choice and control etc will have an impact. So the really interesting part of using this questionnaire is the critique of it.

Holmes, T.H. & Rahe, R.H. (1967). The social readjustment rating scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 11, 213-218

Keys

Almost every nurse I have spoken to who worked in a psychiatric hospital kept their keys on finishing their employment (perhaps not so easy in this age of swipe cards). The keys are a powerful symbol for service users and nurses. I collected this selection from various colleagues. Consider recommending the web site or using the montage on a powerpoint slide to stimulate discussion.

Mental Status Assessment / Examination

A few pages on mental status assessment. It may be helpful as a glossary of terms used in psychiatric settings.

Muddiest Points in Mental Health

This is a handout to encourage people to focus reflection on a point or issue that is unclear to them. I have used this largely with undergraduate students on placement in mental health settings and a variation for considering course content.

Understanding Change

A one page handout outlining the 'Health Belief Model', some points about motivation and the 'Stages of Change'.

What if I were a client?

This handout encourages students/helpers to reflect on the kind of help and support they would like if they needed to use the helping service and importantly the kind of qualities they need to develop as effective helpers.