Learning goals part. 2

I'm a little bit late now with blog but I have made my goals on paper. So right now I'm in hospital (mental health unit) to doing my practise.

Here are my learning goals for second placement:
*Learn language
*To deal my confusing attitudes
*Get own individual and explore for her/him (illness, background etc.)
*Learn daily habits and to work independently
*Learn more about mental diseases and know symptoms

I have not so large goals 'cause I will stay my placement only two weeks, three days in week.

Mental health - second week behind

Okay, now my second in mental health practise is over. That was my last week in my first training placement also. After those weeks, I feel that I got my goals.

Of course, I learning language all the time but in practise I learned some pieces of my professional vocabulary. I read many books of mental health there and gave new worlds in my mind.

Like I wrote earlier, I have no negative attitudes right now if we thinking about mental health rehabilitees. However, my next placement is in hospital where are more sick people. They don't have a balance of care and need more treatment. In my first placement, clients need like "friend" not "nurse".

Because of two weeks in placement, I learned by force what are clients daily habits. For example, what time they will coming in centre, when they take a part of groups and what kind of groups each likes. What time is dinner time and who are friends with each others.

I got a good relationship with my own client. He told me tips of his illness and how he goes. Our "morningsession" was very rewarding for both of us and I hope that I was able to give something for my client. Anyway, we were well discussion contact which help me to learn and my client to meet his fears.

Many times I crossed myself, because I'm terrible singer and two times in my placement I took a part of singing group. And both time I sang a song. Second time was easier and I sang our national anthem. In addition I was in art group, relaxation group and women group. All of them were important experience for me and centres clients.

In the end, I got very good forms about my training and learning and my mentor said that liason with other staff was excellent. 

So, now is good to go next placement. I have seen what it is to work with mental healt rehabilitees and I will see next what it is to work with serious mental health illness (acute phase).

Mental health - First week behind

So first week in Ireland and in my first training placement is behind me now. My feelings are tired but very happy. Now I understand how hard it really is to speak foreign language whole day and try to understand what people want to tell you.

However my first training placement is some kind of day (care) centre for mental health rehabilitees. I have met people with different backgrounds and diagnosis. Every one is a person and they have their own skills and strengths. And of course, some problems.

The clients have everyday habits ja they take part of different kind of groups and therapy in the centre. Some one likes acting and some one loves bingo or reading. My role in this place is to be "a friend" for clients. I take a part of groups as a member and talking with them for example today's news and things about my home country.

Everyday I have to meet my negative attitudes and of course my own fears, too. For example, there was music therapy at thursday and even though I am terrible singer I took part of this group. At first clients sang their song or said some poems. My mentor said poem too, and when everyone else was present their things I sang "Twinkle twinkle star" - in finnish of course. At the end we praised each others and there was "healing atmosphere", i thought. It was very nice to understand that we all are people even though you can't sing like a popstar or can't work like others.

When I have read backgrounds about my clients and I have spoke with them, in this week, I have got lost my negatives about mental health rehabilitees. It is so interesting to speak with them and listen their lifestories. They have their own past and memories and I can just understand that they are people too. Just like me, but they have only disease which make to their daily lives a little bit complicated than mine.

About my learning goals, I have a feeling that I know now the centres daily habits and liaison with other staff working good. Also I have learn a language 'cause I have to use it every day not only the centre but in my daily living here. About negative attitudes like I said - they are lost with rehabilitees. I can't say how I feel when I going my next training placement. Hopefully I feel like now.

Mental health practise in Ireland

I will make my mental health practise (5 weeks, including 185 hours in training placements) in Ireland.

My learning goals in first place, mental health rehabilitees day centre:
*Learn language
*Meet my negative attitudes
*Learn more about Irish culture and clients daily habits
*Help "my own client" to meet his fear (will telling more about this in my "critical insident")
*Take part of centres groups and things what are important to clients
*Make good liaison with other staff