COVID-19: Important information for visitors to Forensicare.

Tag - Mental Health

The sacrifice you might not know you’re making

Something that comes up often in the reflective practice space is a preparedness to show up for others. And whilst this is admirable and often humbling to witness, it also often occurs at the expense of attending to our own needs and wellbeing. Today, October 10th is World Mental Health Day, with the theme ‘make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’.In this edition of The Ascent, we highlight the common tendency in health professionals to ‘self-sacrifice’ [...]

Managing burnout

Lately we’ve been hearing a lot about anxiety, fatigue, and exhaustion, and we’ve been feeling this too. Whilst there could be a whole host of explanations for this, two words come up time and again – burnout and stress. It can be hard to differentiate between the two, and indeed some of us may feel like we’re balancing on a fine line between them. This edition of The Ascent explores these experiences more deeply in a bid to try [...]

POSITION STATEMENT | Eliminating restrictive interventions in mental health services

Forensicare acknowledges and supports eliminating the use of restrictive practices within Victorian mental health and wellbeing services. We are committed to working towards safely ending these practices at Forensicare and to continue listening to the voices of consumers, their families, supporters and our staff as we undertake this journey.We do not agree with recent commentary that reducing or eliminating restrictive practices will increase risks to the community and health care workers. However, we recognise the elimination of restrictive interventions [...]

Announcing our Strategic Plan 2021-26

Forensicare is proud to announce the launch of our Strategic Plan 2021-26. The next five years will be a period of exciting growth and development at Forensicare, and the Strategic Plan 2021-26 clearly details our purpose, vision, objectives and priorities, outlining a roadmap for how we move forward as an organisation.Watch the video to learn more about our Strategic Plan 2021-26.The Strategic Plan 2021-26 is the result of hard work by many people. We consulted widely with staff, executive, [...]

Creating pathways for students to forensic mental health

Forensicare has initiated the Allied Health Pre-Qualifiication Program to attract soon-to-be-qualified students to a career in forensic mental health. Soon we will welcome six final year universty students enrolled in social work, occupational therapy and psychology to our service.

Image reads: the Ascent, taking care of your mental health. This focuses on the mental health impacts of wearing masks during COVID-19.

Connecting and Communicating From Behind the Mask

This year has been a crash course in learning how to connect in new and creative ways.First, it was connecting via virtual means when touch and physical proximity was reduced during COVID-19. Now, over the past few weeks we have had to learn how to form connections whilst half of our face is covered by a mask. Then add to that, for healthcare workers, the introduction of protective eye wear. We need to do this for the safety of ourselves [...]

Celebrating mental health nurse practitioners with Forensicare's Nurse Practitioner Program

Ten years on: celebrating our mental health nurse practitioners

Every day is a new and exciting challenge for Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Courtney Dunn. It’s a complex role in a complex environment, but Courtney wouldn’t have it any other way.“Our days vary quite a bit,” said Courtney.“Professionally, it’s a great role to be in because you get to work independently, while still being attached to a team.”As a nurse practitioner with Forensicare at the Melbourne Assessment Prison, Courtney’s day might include anything from complex case management, advanced assessment and interventions, and [...]

Forensicare senior health clinician tackles mental health stigma

Tackling stigma and saving lives: Forensicare’s Mental Health Advice and Response Service

No single day is the same for Senior Mental Health Clinician Christian Bimbola Ogbah.As part of his role in Forensicare’s Mental Health Advice and Response Service (MHARS) team at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court, Christian helps some of society’s most vulnerable people—that is, people who are engaged with the justice system and live with a mental illness.“I can see anywhere from four to ten clients per day,” Christian said.Sometimes, Christian’s clients—whether they be referred from Corrections Victoria, the Magistrates’ courts, or walk-ins—have [...]