My Working Day: Julie Healy, manager of the drop-in mental health information centre at St Patrick's Hospital, explains her role
I manage the Republic's first mental health information centre, so in a way I'm in uncharted waters, setting my own course, which I see as a positive thing.
I helped set up the centre last April. It's open to patients, families, medical staff and the public. It's my job to ensure there is a confidential and comfortable environment for accessing information on mental health in its broadest sense.
My first duty of the day is to check e-mails, telephone messages and post for queries, which I try to deal with straightaway. Then it's on to the newspapers to see if there are any articles relating to mental illness. It's important to be up to date with emerging issues.
No appointment is needed and visitors usually begin to arrive at about 10am. I manage a team of volunteers but am available to answer queries and assist with the IT facility at the centre. We have access to 50 internet sites that we have assessed and approved, which avoids the need for blanket internet searches that can often throw up conflicting and confusing results. People can browse at their own pace or be guided by us. Some prefer more traditional sources of information such as books, leaflets and documents.
Queries, which I also take by phone or e-mail, often require further investigation, for example, requests from patients who would like company and an opportunity to mix more in their local area. Generally, requests are varied, ranging from the relevant support services available to medication.
I see my job as empowering people to control their own illness so that they become consumers of the mental health services available to them. I like people to know that we also have policy documents such as the Report of the Inspector of Mental Health Services published by the Mental Health Commission.
An important part of my job involves providing a link to self-help organisations. Many patients find them intimidating and fail to make contact, but studies show that they have a very important role to play in people staying well and accessing emotional support.
On Wednesdays I work late as the centre stays open until 7pm. At 6pm we have a special session for families of people with mental illness. This group carries a huge burden and tends to put their own needs last. In addition to learning more about mental illness, what to expect, and how best to care for their relative, they can source information that will help them cope themselves. I am often asked to speak to patients who are taking part in therapeutic programmes in the hospital about what options are available to them in terms of self-help and support groups.
I use any free time to ensure all our information is up to date. I'm in regular contact with voluntary organisations for their latest material. I also spend time each day assessing our service and meeting our volunteers to hear their feedback and needs.
I'm also responsible for volunteer training. Our volunteers are at the core of our service. They undergo both induction and ongoing training. The latter involves observing how clients are dealt with and working with the individual needs of each volunteer.
Responding to every query with appropriate information is our objective and we endeavour to make clients always feel welcome.
The medical information centre is enrolling volunteers. Contact Julie Healy on (01) 2493469.
(In conversation with Denise Deegan)