From hospitalised to discharged

While in hospital, you can get help from the social worker on the ward.

The social worker can provide advice and guidance on a range of topics, such as financial support, family problems, homelessness etc.

The social worker can also help you get in touch with a municipal case worker who can support you after you are discharged.

It is a good idea to make a plan for what you should do if you start feeling unwell. You can do the plan together with your contact or someone from your network.

The plan could include descriptions of your warning signs and what usually helps you alleviate your anxiety and agitation, and what others can do to help you.

Your network is important when it comes to getting back to your normal life because being discharged can be hard. Your professional helpers, your family and friends can play an important role.

It is a good idea, together with your contact or someone you trust, to try to create an overview of your network: Who can you meet up with? Who can you contact if you do not feel well?

Let the staff know if you think you will need urgent, intensive treatment after you have been discharged. This will enable them to make the best possible plan for your ongoing treatment.

Before you are discharged, you will be invited to a conversation about what will happen after your discharge.

Your contact should attend the interview if possible. Your municipal case worker may also be invited to attend.

You are also welcome to invite someone along that you trust, such as a close friend or a family member.

What will you talk about?

Talking about your treatment plan may be good place to start. Your treatment plan was prepared by you, your doctor and your contact on the ward when you were admitted (you have been given a written copy).

Questions that you may like to discuss include:

• Do you know how your treatment will continue once you have been discharged?
• Do you know what medication you have to take?
• Do you know if your finances are in order?
• Has your accommodation been sorted out?
• Is there somewhere you can go during the day if you do not have a job.
• Have you talked to your friends or family about how they can best support you?
• Do you know who to contact if you start feeling unwell again?

It is important to give yourself time and peace after you have been discharged. Try to eat a balanced diet, to establish a regular sleeping pattern and to exercise, for example by taking a short walk.

You can be treated by the district psychiatric services or an outpatient clinic without the need to be hospitalised. Counselling (perhaps in a group) and being taught about your illness may also be part of the psychiatric treatment.

If you need help urgently, you can contact the psychiatric hotline:

• Psykiatrisk Rådgivningstelefon: Telephone 78 470 470

  The hotline is open 24 hours a day. You will get through to a member of staff from the psychiatric services.

• The out-of-hours medical helpline (Lægevagten) in Central Denmark Region: Telephone 70 11 31 31

  The out-of-hours medical helpline can be contacted between 16:00 and 8:00 on weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends and public holidays. In the daytime, consult your own doctor

• The Livslinjen helpline (if you are feeling siucidal): Phone 70 201 201

  Open every day between 11:00 and 17:00. You can also write to or chat with the lifeline.

Many people continue treatment with their own doctor (GP). I you need treatment by a psychiatrist in a private practice, you will need a referral from your GP. Your GP is also the person to speak to about the possibility of getting help from a psychologist.

Medication

Medication is often an important part of psychiatric treatment. It is important for you and your doctor (GP) to work together to find out how the medication is working for you.

Many people get help from a municipal social worker or the local job centre when they are discharged.

If the thought of having to deal with day-to-day tasks seems overwhelming, you might be assigned a home help. You should talk to your municipal social worker about the possibility of getting help to organise your everyday routines.

A number of associations offer help, advice and support.

www.psykiatrien.rm.dk/980851

Many municipalities offer social and other activities. At socialkompas.dk, you can find an offer that suits you.

www.socialkompas.dk

• Select your municipality from the menu.

On our pages about living with a diagnosis, you can find helpful advice, films and more

www.psykiatrien.rm.dk/1089095

• Select diagnosis, e.g. ‘Bipolar disorder in adults’
• Select the subpage ‘Living with...’, e.g. ‘Living with bipolar disorder’.

At udskrevet.dk, you can find helpful advice and watch videos about being discharged from a psychiatric ward. You can also download and print a guide from the Capital Region of Denmark and Region Zealand.

www.udskrevet.dk