Youth Ambassador Noelle, talks about her clinical experiences and
the impact technology has made to her treatment.
What does technology mean to you?
Technology means computers, mobile phones, medical equipment (I'm a
student soon to be let lose in medical environments!), projectors,
cool TV applications, internet, etc, etc, etc.
What types of
technology do you use in your day to day life?
I use my computer, incessantly, and mobile phone. I also have a
Nintendo Wii - so I do my exercise with that.
Have you sought
treatment for any type of mental difficulties?
Yes.
Would you tell me a little about them?
I'm recovering from an eating disorder, depression and anxiety.
Along with that also comes the classic perfectionism, ritualistic
behaviors and low self esteem and sense of self. I spent 4 months
in hospital and have had five Emergency Department admissions this
year, which have saved my life, but other than that, I've had 3
lots of outpatient treatment. I'm much better than I was 3 years
ago when I started treatment, but it's something that still takes a
lot of energy to keep motivated towards treatment and staying
well.
What were your experiences with health care professionals
like?
I've had good experiences and bad experiences. Some of the
professionals I've worked with have been poorly trained and
diminished my hope of recovery, some have said ridiculously
inappropriate things, others have given me the most amazing
support, treatment and help while upholding my dignity and valuing
me as a person and not only seeing my illness. However I look at
it, the medical profession have saved my life several times, so I
can't be too critical of my treatment.
What types of technology
were used in your sessions?
Initially the technology to save my life was used - cardiac
monitors, intravenous drips, various medications, vitamins and
minerals calculated and dispensed via technological machinery to
keep my body functioning. Eventually things like online diagnostic
tools and email contact were used. My GP frequently emails me
skills modules she finds and other things she thinks could help.
Prior to my most recent lot of treatment, I've emailed my
psychologist and dietitian, talked on MSN and Facebook and had
phone consultations. Aside from that, the first time I reached out
for help, I found my help services online - first I found Reach Out
(www.reachout.com) and found some information and eventually
accessed Kids Helpline online services before I managed to call.
When I was ready to start getting help, I found contact numbers for
treatment services online.
How do you think it would have/or did
make a difference to your treatment?
I find it much easier to talk about what's really going on in
writing. Being able to email my treatment team before a session is
quick, easy and saves me struggling to articulate what's actually
going on for me. Phone consultations were helpful and made a huge
difference to my treatment when I was in a different state to my
treatment team, and phone consultations now can help when I can't
make an appointment, or can't get into an appointment because it
means I can connect with my treatment team if I can't actually make
it in to see them. They also prevent my treatment team from
worrying in the instance they can't get hold of me.
What advice
would you give a health care professional wanting to use technology
in their practice, including some practical examples?
Go for it! But ensure that you know how to use it properly so
you're not spending half the session fluffing around and not
*dealing*. Be aware that some mental illness can be sneaky and hide
behind technology and that technological intervention may never be
able to replace face to face intervention.
However, I think if
someone doesn't have a diagnosable mental illness, but maybe is
having issues with negative thinking, online contact can be a whole
lot easier, less stressful (let us not forget the serious amount of
stigma mental health issues/thinking dilemmas still have around
them) and more convenient. Programs like MoodGym and Reach Out
Central can be so integral to early intervention and
prevention.
What would you say to a health care professional to
convince them or to sway them into including technologies in their
treatment of young people?
It helps. It's in keeping with the times. If used properly, it will
advance healthcare and consumer interaction with professionals.
It's a great starting point - there's so much uncertainty about
seeing a professional for a mental illness or health problem, but
contact through this first "wall" can make it so much more
comfortable for the client. It's made a huge difference to my life
- the treatment I've had has saved it.
Youth Ambassador Noelle, talks about her clinical
experiences and the impact technology has made to her
treatment.
What does technology mean to you?
Technology means computers, mobile phones, medical equipment
(I'm a student soon to be let lose in medical environments!),
projectors, cool TV applications, internet, etc, etc, etc.
What types of technology do you use in your day to day
life?
I use my computer, incessantly, and mobile phone. I also have a
Nintendo Wii - so I do my exercise with that.
Have you sought treatment for any type of mental
difficulties?
Yes.
Would you tell me a little about them?
I'm recovering from an eating disorder, depression and anxiety.
Along with that also comes the classic perfectionism, ritualistic
behaviors and low self esteem and sense of self. I spent 4 months
in hospital and have had five Emergency Department admissions this
year, which have saved my life, but other than that, I've had 3
lots of outpatient treatment. I'm much better than I was 3 years
ago when I started treatment, but it's something that still takes a
lot of energy to keep motivated towards treatment and staying
well.
What were your experiences with health care
professionals like?
I've had good experiences and bad experiences. Some of the
professionals I've worked with have been poorly trained and
diminished my hope of recovery, some have said ridiculously
inappropriate things, others have given me the most amazing
support, treatment and help while upholding my dignity and valuing
me as a person and not only seeing my illness. However I look at
it, the medical profession have saved my life several times, so I
can't be too critical of my treatment.
What types of technology
were used in your sessions?
Initially the technology to save my life was used - cardiac
monitors, intravenous drips, various medications, vitamins and
minerals calculated and dispensed via technological machinery to
keep my body functioning. Eventually things like online diagnostic
tools and email contact were used. My GP frequently emails me
skills modules she finds and other things she thinks could help.
Prior to my most recent lot of treatment, I've emailed my
psychologist and dietitian, talked on MSN and Facebook and had
phone consultations. Aside from that, the first time I reached out
for help, I found my help services online - first I found Reach Out
(www.reachout.com) and found some information and eventually
accessed Kids Helpline online services before I managed to call.
When I was ready to start getting help, I found contact numbers for
treatment services online.
How do you think it would have/or did make a difference
to your treatment?
I find it much easier to talk about what's really going on in
writing. Being able to email my treatment team before a session is
quick, easy and saves me struggling to articulate what's actually
going on for me. Phone consultations were helpful and made a huge
difference to my treatment when I was in a different state to my
treatment team, and phone consultations now can help when I can't
make an appointment, or can't get into an appointment because it
means I can connect with my treatment team if I can't actually make
it in to see them. They also prevent my treatment team from
worrying in the instance they can't get hold of me.
What advice would you give a health care professional
wanting to use technology in their practice, including some
practical examples?
Go for it! But ensure that you know how to use it properly so
you're not spending half the session fluffing around and not
*dealing*. Be aware that some mental illness can be sneaky and hide
behind technology and that technological intervention may never be
able to replace face to face intervention.
However, I think if
someone doesn't have a diagnosable mental illness, but maybe is
having issues with negative thinking, online contact can be a whole
lot easier, less stressful (let us not forget the serious amount of
stigma mental health issues/thinking dilemmas still have around
them) and more convenient. Programs like MoodGym and Reach Out
Central can be so integral to early intervention and
prevention.
What would you say to a health care professional to
convince them or to sway them into including technologies in their
treatment of young people?
It helps. It's in keeping with the times. If used properly, it
will advance healthcare and consumer interaction with
professionals. It's a great starting point - there's so much
uncertainty about seeing a professional for a mental illness or
health problem, but contact through this first "wall" can make it
so much more comfortable for the client. It's made a huge
difference to my life - the treatment I've had has saved it.