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Our Occupational Therapists such as TPCH Senior OT Jess play a crucial role working with mental health patients to restore everyday functioning and build strategies to participate meaningfully in their daily activities. 💪

"We see patients in a sub-acute setting so that means they`ve been discharged from emergency, they may have been referred from their GP, or they may have contacted the 24/7 mental health line seeking support," Jess says.

"Our role is to perform mental health assessments on people to monitor their mental state, and we have our new OT clinic where we work in smaller groups, focussing on emotional regulation tasks to improve their overall functioning and skills to cope during crisis.

"Someone may not be attending work, or engaging in any type of hobbies, so we can find out what the perpetuating factor might be and make recommendations on how they can change their environment to improve this." 🎾🤿🧩🎣

There is an opportunity to join the OT team at TPCH today, click the link in our bio to apply! #WorkforusWednesday ...

`Big Jon` is a familiar face at TPCH, having spent several weeks in a coma at TPCH in 2011 after a blister on his foot developed into sepsis. He would then go on to be diagnosed with a rare neurological issue, causing muscle weakness and loss of mobility.

Over the past 15 years, Jon has visited the hospital many times for support, admitting Charlie`s is like a second home. He`s been hospitalised more than 400 times and now visits once a fortnight for treatment.

“What CIDP is, it’s an autoimmune disease that my body is fighting and trying to attack my nervous system. So, a good way of explaining it is like a jug cord. That cord’s got wires inside. Well, that’s your nerves. The plastic around would be the myelin sheath. So essentially, my immune system is trying to eat the plastic around the wires to get to the nerves," Jon said, explaining his condition.

"And that’s what my body’s doing right now… So, unfortunately, with the CIDP, your protective layer around the nerves is damaged and the treatment to slow the condition means I’m more susceptible to infection,” he added.

Jon is an ambassador for tomorrow`s The Prince Charles Hospital Giving Day through @thecommongoodau raising funds for research and patient care initiatives at TPCH. You can find out more via the link in our bio. ...

"I had a scan in February and found out I had cancer in my oesophagus; I had to see the specialist here at the Royal Brisbane and then I had to have chemotherapy at the hospital in Hervey Bay. Once I finished the chemotherapy, I had six weeks off and then I came here and I had an operation to cut the cancer out of my oesophagus. I was here recovering for about 11 weeks and then I was on the train back to Gayndah, where I`m from. When I got back, I wasn`t feeling good, so I called the ambulance and had to come back to the hospital on the plane and now I am here for another operation. I am usually in a caravan travelling around the countryside, but I took on a job as being a caretaker and that is what I was doing before I fell ill. You just have to take one step at a time, that is all I can say."

💭 Monday Mantra, Leo, RBWH Ward 9A South Patient ...

TPCH Recreation Officer Adam is on a roll helping consumers in the Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (SMHRU), using painting and decorating of skateboard decks to portray their stories. 🛹🎨

“I really encouraged them to use words and images on the decks that are meaningful to them, and the clients that came down, they really got involved in it, really enjoyed what they have done,” Adam said, reflecting on the unique activity.

“I enjoy looking after the clients, working out what their interests are and how I can tap into that to make their stay here a lot more pleasant and comfortable.

“It also giving them skills and introducing new things that hopefully help them move forward in their lives.”

The skateboards will be mounted in the SMHRU front office foyer so everyone can see and appreciate the creativity of our consumers. 🤩 ...