Amy's story
Background
In her early childhood, Amy’s mental health needs were relatively mild. She had attended a special needs school from the age of five, although she suffered mild bullying and had difficulty in forming friendships. At age nine, Amy witnessed her younger brother being run over and killed by a car – a severe trauma from which she almost certainly never fully recovered.
By the time she reached her teenage years, Amy was exhibiting extremely challenging behaviours including recurrent mood disorders, impulsive behaviour and aggressive outbursts. Eventually, she moved out of the family home and began a series of residential placements. After a series of suicidal episodes and increasingly aggressive and violent behaviour, Amy’s care team resorted to chaining her to a bed in a seclusion room.
Assessment, admission and treatment
By the age of 32, Amy had been detained under the Mental Health Act, with a legal classification of Mental Impairment and Mental Illness. No longer able to give her the care and attention she needed, Amy’s care team referred her to Rowan House, one of Care Principles' secure hospitals, for further assessment and treatment. The consultant psychologists and psychiatrists quickly agreed upon a suitable programme of treatment, which blended medication and Cognitive Behavioural Therapies with intensive counselling and social work.
Progress
The first months at Rowan House were extremely difficult, with regular acts of verbal and physical aggression, self-injurious behaviours, damage to property, verbal threats and intimidation, and use of weapons. However, Amy responded well to her treatment, and to the environment at the hospital which she found calming and very supportive. As the months progressed, her aggressive outbursts and violent episodes had diminished from an average of six incidents a week to less than one.
Throughout her time with Care Principles, Amy’s social worker maintained strong links with her family. As a result of her positive progress, it was jointly agreed that Amy would benefit most from a stand-alone project in the community, staffed 24/7, with a well-structured programme of community activities. A house was purchased closer to her family, and the local health and Social Services teams developed a detailed care plan in conjunction with the Rowan House team.
In mid-November 2004, just thirteen months after her initial admission to Rowan House, Amy moved into her new home. She continues to make excellent progress in her new home, and has developed a strong and loving relationship with her mother. Her behaviour is now almost completely stable, and she is literally flourishing.
“Amy’s progress and recovery is incredibly heartening. It just goes to show the difference that focused care and nurture in a calm environment can make.”
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