Recovery Coaching & Mental Health Advocacy
NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY TO RECOVERY FROM EATING DISORDERS, THROUGH SHARED UNDERSTANDING, HOPE AND COLLABORATION
From simply surviving for over half of her life, to finally refinding herself and breaking free from the grips of anorexia, anxiety and depression, Sally knows first-hand what it's like to lose yourself in the face of mental illness. Gaining a RAW but STRONG understanding and insight into the 'negative mind' and the role of certain personality traits often associated with eating disorders during her own recovery, in 2015, Sally began sharing her insights with parents from the lived experience perspective so that they could better understand the challenges experienced by their loved ones. Through word of mouth in 2016, parents started reaching out to Sally to provide 1:1 phone-based peer support to individuals whilst continuing to provide continued support to parents and other supports.
Building an Innovative Model of Care
In 2015, Sally began drawing on her own experiences and challenges navigating the healthcare system and overall journey to recovery to design a model of care that would address the gaps in the system for individuals and families affected by eating disorders
Over the past eight years, Sally has collectively provided both face-to-face and phone/video-based support with a focus on providing hope, shared understanding, service navigation, care coordination, meal support, psychosocial support and crisis support to both individuals and parents/families. Through her roles with three multidisciplinary mental health teams under the banner of Queensland Health Metro South Mental Health and Addiction Service and Naemi International, Sally gained additional skills and experience in mental health assessments, case management, multidisciplinary team reviews, delivery of psychosocial education sessions and client documentation.
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Between 2019-2021 and drawing on over ten years of professional experience across coaching, coordination and leadership roles, Sally began to pilot her model of care with several individuals and families, receiving positive feedback from individuals, families and clinicians. As an advocate for evidence-based treatment, Sally is also often approached by individuals and parents to serve as a support person and advocate for person-centred and recovery-orientated care. This often involves liaising with clinicians, experts within the eating disorder space and key stakeholders around Australia concerning the delivery of evidence-based treatment within the acute hospital-based setting, initiating case-based reviews and contributing to the development of supporting documentation to treating teams and mental health review boards.
In 2023, Sally completed her graduate program with the Queensland Ambulance Service and became a registered and qualified advanced care Paramedic under the Australian Healthcare Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). In 2024, Sally is recommencing her postgraduate studies in mental health to complement her clinical degree and experience as a Paramedic and the longer-term goals she has for the gradual delivery and development of a nationwide service from 2024/25 onwards. She continues to provide 1:1 support to individuals and families as required as well as providing guidance and advocacy in navigating concerns surrounding involuntary and evidence-based treatment in hospital settings as requested.
WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING
OVERALL RATING OF PARENTS/CARERS FROM SERVICES PROVIDED IN A SURVEY COMPLETED IN 2022
Extremely Helpful
Belinda Lipscombe, QLD Health Wellbeing Team Psychologist
Sally's work is at a high level and I can depend on her to ensure tasks are completed on time. She works well with clinicians, provides a high level of care to clients and proactively seeks ways to improve not only in herself but the greater team and service as a whole.
Erin Bell, QLD Health Wellbeing Team Leader
Sally is passionate about her professional work and always aims to provide the best possible service to clients and their families. She has demonstrated initiative where there have been areas for improvement and actively sought out feedback from others regarding input on decisions. If the opportunity presented itself, I would employ Sally in a similar role.
"Sometimes you have to think outside of the box and establish new initiatives that address current gaps within the system. "
- Sally Jacobs
"Mental health is personal to me."
"Nothing could have ever prepared me for the impact that mental illness would have on my life, nor the emotional suffering and pain that would come with fighting to get my life back on the journey to recovery. Without a doubt the biggest battle of my life, my own lived experience of battling and recovering from mental illness gave me a very deep insight, understanding and appreciation for the significant impact that mental illness can have on individuals and relationships, but also the immense courage and strength it takes to fight to get your life back."
Want to Find Out More?
If you or your loved on are interested in working together on the journey to recovery from an eating disorder, are looking for guidance in supporting your loved one to connect with the motivation to recover or needing assistance in advocating for evidence-based care within the hospital setting, please reach out to start a conversation. I look forward to connecting with you.
- Sally Jacobs