Shared management of mental health 4.
4.1 Shared decision-making with a mental health service provider Although the responsibility for your health is yours, you are not alone on this journey! In addition, you are not just a passive recipient of care, and both you and your mental health service providers can work together to make decisions about your treatment and progress. Mental Health America defines shared decision-making as a process that occurs ‘when people with mental health conditions and their treatment providers work together to come up with the best possible course of action. It's a process that emphasises communication and trust, and an approach where the expertise of the person experiencing the condition and the medical professional are valued equally. Shared decision-making is about respect and dignity.’ Working with a mental health service provider means that you can both develop a plan with clear shared objectives and steps. Shared decision-making is relatively new in health care and not all medical professionals are trained in or understand this practice. Today, there are many stigmas and traditions of care within the treatment of mental health that are increasingly seen as unacceptable and need to change, but this change will not happen quickly. It is therefore the role of everyone involved to take charge of active, open and engaged learning together towards better mental health care.
4.2 Caregiving An important part of managing your mental health is developing a network of friends and family who you can trust to act in your best interests, support you and hold you accountable. Many people have someone who helps to care for them on a daily basis. This is often a family member, partner or close friend. The vast majority of daily care of
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