OBJECTIVE 3

Follow up on psychosocial healthcare support

Social support systems

• Social support system refers to: a network of people – friends,

family, and peers – that we can turn to for emotional and
practical support.
• At school, fellow students, supportive staff,
and faculty may provide assistance, and as we move into our
professional careers, our colleagues may also be sources of
support.
Benefits of a Social Support System

•Those with robust social support networks have better health,

longer lives, and report higher well-being.
•Buffering stress- Some friends can even help your identity
when you are stressed/ distressed, in some cases they may
notice it before you do.
•There are many practical benefits of having supportive
relationships, such as knowing people who can provide you
with information, advice, guidance and also tangible support
such as assistance in times of uncertainty- This feature of
social support can be comforting and enhance your feelings of
security.
• Supportive relationships can also boost you emotionally, when your
feeling down or overwhelmed, your friends and loved ones will listen
to your fears, hopes and dreams and make you feel seen and
understood.
• They can help you think through alternatives and help you solve
problems, they distract you from your worries if that’s what's really
needed.
• In doing all these they provide encouragement and lower your stress
and feelings of loneliness.
SUSTAINING YOUR CURRENT RELATIONSHIP.

• Successful relationships require give and take. A good rule of thumb

to treat your friends as you want to be treated.
• Show your appreciation- Tell your friends and family how important
they are to you and thank them for all they give you.
• Stay in touch through phone calls, texts, and emails; reciprocate
invitations.
• Be available when you’re needed. True friends come through
when times are tough. Be a good listener and allow your
friends to confide freely and without being judged.
•Accept their help. Some people find it hard to accept support,
preferring to be the one always offering it instead.
• Support successes. When you genuinely care about someone
you will be excited when they succeed.
• Keep the lines of communication open. Open, honest
communication is the lifeblood of healthy, happy relationships
•Respect needs and limits. Each person has their own setting for
how much social interaction they need and want. Know your
own and respect that of others, even it differs from yours.
•Know when a relationship isn’t working for you. If you find
that you are drained whenever you see a particular friend, or
that he or she is inconsiderate of your time or feelings, or is
unreliable, highly critical of you, or generally negative, they
may not be the friend for you. Similarly, if they engage in
unhealthy behaviours, such as alcohol or substance abuse,
particularly if you have had trouble with such issues, they also
may not be a good choice for your social support network.
• NB:
• • Remember those In your support system should help reduce stress,
not increase it.
• They should support your goals and efforts to achieve them not to
belittle, undermine or ignore them.
Some ideas for building your social support
system.
• Volunteer- Commit some of your time to a community organization or a local
place of faith.
-Volunteering can give you that gratification of taking action to further your values
and will bring you into contact with others who share your interests and ideals.
• Take up a sport or join a gym- This is good for your physical and psychological
health and you may also provide the opportunity to build new friendships.
• Start a book club- and invite other people to join who you don’t already know
well
-Discussing interesting ideas and sharing thoughts and observations is a wonderful
way to make new friends
• Meet your neighbours and co-workers make an effort to get to know some of the
acquaintances you see on a regular basis.
• Join professional organizations.
-Taking this step is good not only for your future career but it will also
help extend your social network to encompass others in your field.
-Sometimes friends in the same profession can understand the stresses
you face better than anyone
• Use online resources
-Social networking sites can help you stay connected with friends and
family.
-There are also many sites that can provide specialized support if you
are going through stressful times or changing circumstances such as
becoming a new parent, facing a life threatening illness in a loved one
or some other challenge.
Examples of social support.

• Listening to a friend talk about a stressful situation.

• Validating another member of support group when they talk about
their feelings.
• Cooking meals for a neighbour who has been feeling ill.
• Praising an employee for doing a good job.
• Providing constructive feedback on someone's work to help them
improve.
• Helping someone with housework when they are struggling with
feelings of depression.
Interpersonal skills.

Definition-Are traits you rely on when you interact and communicate with
others.
• They cover a variety of scenarios when communication and
cooperation are essential
• These skills involve the ability to communicate and build relationships
with others (often called people skills).They tend to incorporate both
your innate personality traits and how you’ve learned to handle
certain social situations.
• Effective interpersonal skills can help you during the job interview
process and can have a positive impact on your career advancement.
Examples of interpersonal skills

• Active listening
• Team work Responsibility
• Dependability
• Leadership
• Motivation
• Flexibility
• Patience
• Empathy
NB:In a work environment, strong interpersonal skills are an asset than can
help you navigate complexity, change and day to day tasks
Behavioural Traits of Interpersonal Skills:
• Though these interpersonal skills are to some extent inherent in
oneself, they can be nurtured and developed with effort.
• The necessary personality and behavioural traits are explained below:

1. Resolving Conflict
• Often there are chances of interpersonal conflict if a number of people
work together
• Discuss ways conflicts can be resolved
2. A Smiling Face:
• When dealing with people, one can get great results just with the help
of a cool demeanour and a smiling face.
3. Appreciative Attitude:
4. Assertive Nature: Even when appreciating others, one should be
assertive One should be very specific—clearly stating the expectation
and the reasons behind it, or else it may come across as hollow and
superficial.
5. Communication Skills
6. Listening Skills:
7. Developing Empathy:
MONITORING PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRESS
• It involves several methods
• Health care providers often use regular assessment through:
1. Interviews
2. Questionnaires and scales
• Community health workers and councillors also play a crucial role in
providing support and gathering information
• Electronic health records and mobile health solutions are increasingly
being used to track patient’s progress and ensure continuity of care
Follow-up//Progress monitoring

✓Individuals discharged from inpatient medical or

psychiatric facilities require timely follow-up care to
maintain their functioning and avoid or delay future
hospitalizations.
✓Progress monitoring/follow-up is used to assess the
rate of improvement or responsiveness to therapeutic
interventions, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the
psychosocial support.
✓Progress monitoring can be implemented with an
individual patient or through group sessions.
✓Psychosocial progress monitoring//follow-up has the
potential to significantly improve treatment
outcomes.
✓Research shows that when both therapists and
clients receive feedback on progress, clients tend to
have better outcomes.
Importance of psychosocial progress monitoring

i. Helps in gauging the efficacy of the therapeutic

approach - Determines what is working and what is
not.
ii. Guides the adjustment to practice - Change the
treatment / intervention plan if the patient/client is
not responding to the therapeutic approach
iii. Improves:
✓Patient/client engagement in therapy
✓Quality of psychosocial services
✓Consistency of therapy sessions
✓Provider self-assessment
Methods of psychosocial progress
monitoring
I. Collecting baseline data using psychosocial
assessments findings for future comparison.
II. Obtaining feedbacks from the clients during
individual and group therapy sessions
III. Receiving feedback observations from parents,
friends and other psychosocial health providers.
Reporting of psychosocial issues

• Psychosocial issues increase the risk of psychological or physical

harm, hence a report on psychosocial hazards in the workplace is
important in order to access support services.
• Psychosocial issues are a serious occupational health and safety
issues.
• Psychosocial hazards can cause a person to experience a negative
psychological response that creates a risk to their health.
• Negative psychosocial responses caused by exposure to psychosocial
hazards can lead to physical injury, psychological injury (also known as
mental injury) or both at the same time.
Reporting psychological issues typically involves several steps, depending
on the context (e.g., workplace, school, healthcare setting). Here are
some general guidelines:

• 1. Recognize the Symptoms: Be aware of the psychological issues you

or someone else is experiencing. These might include anxiety,
depression, stress, mood swings, or other mental health concerns.
• 2. Documentation: Keep a detailed record of symptoms, incidents,
and how they are affecting daily life or work. This can help when
discussing the issue with a profess
• 3. Confidentiality: Ensure that you respect the privacy of the person
experiencing psychological issues. Use confidential and appropriate
channels to report these concerns.
4. Seek Professional Help:
- Healthcare Provider: Consult a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other
mental health professional. They can provide a diagnosis and treatment
plan.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Many workplaces offer EAPs that
provide confidential counselling and support services.
5. Report to Appropriate Authorities:
- Workplace: If the issues are affecting job performance or involve
workplace stressors, report to HR or a supervisor.
- School: For students, report to a school counsellor or psychologist.
- Legal Authorities: In cases of severe mental health crises or if there is
a risk of harm, contact emergency services or crisis intervention teams.
• 6. Use Hotlines and Support Services: There are numerous hotlines
and support services available for immediate assistance, such as
suicide prevention hotlines or mental health crisis lines.
• 7. Follow-Up: Ensure continuous support and follow-up care, either
through regular appointments with mental health professionals or by
staying in touch with support services.

• The specific steps and resources may vary depending on your location
and the context in which you are reporting the psychological issues.
Common psychosocial hazards/ issues to be
reported include:
Bullying in workplace
• Aggression or violence
• Gendered violence including sexual harassment
• Exposure to traumatic events or content
• High and low job demands
• Poor environmental conditions
• Poor organisational change management
• Low recognition and reward
• Poor workplace relationships
Family problems

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance abuse
• Sexual abuse and violence
• Generalised anxiety disorders
• Social/ panic disorders
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD)
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)

NB: Depending on the hazard/ issue there are a number of actions you can take including:
i. You can report to the immediate supervisor or a human resources
• or safety representative –HR representatives are able to provide
• support and advice around workplace concerns e.g. Issues relating
• to bullying/ harassment, staff grievances or workplace relationship.
ii. Sexual Misconduct Support Unit(SMSU) –The SMSU is a safe and
• supportive place for the community to receive guidance around
• sexual assault and sexual harassment.
iii. Integrity unit –The unit can assess, investigate and manage
• complaints or matters raised about the conduct of staff including
• sexual misconduct, assault, serious breaches of policy and
• procedures.
i. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) –The EAP is available to staff
• and provides free confidential counselling support for personal or
• work-related matters.
ii. Student services (Student Counselling and Support) – SCS services
• provide free and confidential counselling to all students in their
• respective institutions
iii. Mental Health Champion Network –Mental health champions are
• trained staff members who can provide support and referral
• information about mental health and well being.
iv. Different Organisations/ NGO’s / faith based institutions that can
• offer psychosocial services.