CO-DESIGN AND SERVICE-USER EXPERIENCE


I had yet to discover. Feeling hopeless and pitied, a part of me recognised the situation. Although details blur, a vivid memory remains of a crisis in the hallway, a face crashing against a door, and the realisation that I was in an unfamiliar and unsettling place. To cut it short, almost two hours of questioning followed in a room. Lost and hopeless, I asked for empathetic support, but pity surrounded me. The therapist revealed I had a psychotic break, presenting two options: inpatient or outpatient. Choosing outpatient to avoid the unknown, I later succumbed to the pressure of a psychiatrist after inadequate outpatient care.


Better treatment “In the height of COVID, I entered a busy inpatient facility with people trying to detox and get on psychiatric medication. The second round of questioning, during a quieter period, provided better treatment. Transferred to a calmer ‘detox’ ward due to a crisis influx, I realised that placement impacted behaviour. Grateful not to end up in the psychiatric ward, the detox ward lacked activities, offered unhealthy food, and featured group-based therapy with varying effectiveness. In the psychiatric ward, a crisis unfolded, revealing a staff more focused on liability than mental wellbeing. The administration of heavy medication posed challenges for patients attempting to communicate their basic needs, compounded by the absence of physical interactions with loved ones due to COVID restrictions. Navigating through complex medication information became an additional burden for patients, emphasising the importance of self- advocacy and a cautious approach to medication. “Partial hospitalisation, with five hours of sharing trauma, lacked recovery time. The reality differed from promised activities and education, highlighting the importance of pushing forward during recovery. The revolving door of inpatient facilities is a common reality, marked by a high rate of return that indicates inadequate treatment. Witnessing individuals experiencing homelessness emphasised the crucial necessity for appropriate treatment and support. There were people there upward of 14 times – trading vices and addictions. Some left with 11 prescriptions. I left with three. “Despite enduring mistreatment, there


were moments of profound beauty – witnessing human resilience, the vastness of the blue sky, and the melody of birds chirping brought a liberating sense of freedom. Preferring solitude, I navigated through the monotony of boredom. The environment played a crucial role in shaping relationships, laying bare social dynamics. As individuals found themselves at their breaking points, instances of bullying and social ostracisation unfolded, with me becoming the unfortunate centre of scorn.


THE NETWORK | FEBRUARY 2024


A selection of sketches created by the two authors. Both say they were drawn to sketching ‘as a designer’s preferred medium for defining problems and driving solutions with pen and paper’.


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