Hi there! I've lived through a lot of 'interesting' and unfortunate experiences. I have personal experience with various aspects of mental health (emotional/psychological child abuse, sexual assault and PTSD, self-harm, eating disorders/bipolar/depression/paranoia/psychosis), and now I'm pursuing a career in education, so I particularly want to help school-age and fellow young people who are struggling emotionally. Please feel free to talk to me - I will not judge you; I will not try to 'fix' you or tell you what to do. You are ALLOWED to feel the way you do, and telling someone can be incredibly helpful.

For those who I have mentioned mental health plans/contracts to, here is my current home-made template (Note - I am not a mental health professional).

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FeatherFish’s Mental Health Plan

Important Note: This plan is based on something I worked with my own psychologist with. I placed it on my bedroom wall so I could look at it frequently and help with my mood management. I am not a mental health professional, not does 7 Cups of Tea have any involvement with this document. I signed this as a contract with my psychologist, but you don’t need to do that. Let me know if you need any help filling this in.

Name:
Date:

Triggers: (things that may cause me to feel stressed, upset, or trigger mental health issues)

Symptoms I experience: (e.g., anxiety, insomnia, paranoia…)

Signs that I may be becoming at risk: (e.g., over-sleeping, withdrawing from social situations, cancelling plans, binge eating….)

Things I can do to keep myself safe: (e.g., grounding technique, going for a walk, talking to someone…)

Safety Contacts/Resources: (Names and numbers of doctors, family members, helpful websites I can use in times of crisis…)