"Lack of Mental Health Services"

My partner has long standing diagnosed PTSD. Last week in I had to call 000 to assist with getting my partner to Derby Hospital for their own safety after a serious mental health breakdown with suicidal intentions due to their PTSD. The Paramedic (Rich) and Orderly (Steve) were wonderful in making them feel safe, heard and understood. They reassured my partner that going with them in the ambulance to Derby Hospital was their best option for help through this crisis.

Once in ED my partner was treated by the doctors and nurses with respect and dignity in their fragile state. They were also then seen by a lovely nurse (Lewis) from Derby Mental Health to discuss an immediate plan for overnight and then follow up with these services. The plan was for my partner to stay as an inpatient overnight with medication onboard to ensure their safety and wellbeing. I cannot fault the care that my partner was given up to this point by all involved and would like to extend my gratitude to the staff for their care and compassion. 

My partner was then transferred to the General Ward and this is where the lack of mental health services in Derby Hospital were once again highlighted. It was a very busy evening on the ward but due to different patient acuities there were no single or even double rooms available for my partner to be placed in so they were admitted to a very busy and noisy room of four patients and not a calm quiet area that would be more suitable for a patient with mental health issues having a situational crisis.

Again, the staff could not be faulted on the ward for the care they extended to my partner but were at a loss as to what to do when I spoke to them regarding the triggering nature of the room they were in. There were constant loud alarms going off in one patient's cubicle and another one had the tv remote so loud it was vibrating through the speaker and causing an awful noise in the entire room. This was definitely not an environment conducive to the wellbeing of a patient suffering from triggering PTSD.

Even though my partner was highly medicated and a falls risk when standing they were still becoming agitated to a point that I knew if they stayed there, there was a distinct possibility of them becoming enraged. In an enraged state my partner can become a risk to themself and others even though unintentional. For this reason I had to make the decision to leave the hospital and take them home even at the risk to themself or possibly myself. Here lies the problem. There is not suitable care or respite in Derby and a distinct lack across the Kimberley for those with mental health issues in a situational crisis or their NOK to provide adequate safe care for their loved ones. Basically, I was on my own to care for my partner as I believe the hospital is not suitably equipped with fit for purpose mental health facilities or rooms. The staff just didn't know what to do or how to help and there was no plan B. 

Since that night we have had further contact with Derby Mental Health for a referral for my partner to stay at a mental health facility in Perth for further help as Mabu Liyan was not deemed suitable for them. So until a placement becomes available, I like so many other families are on my own to support and guide my partner. Boab Health also has a long waiting list and may not be available until a couple of months for psychological counselling services. As I need to continue to work to pay my bills, I am trying to juggle keeping my partner safe whilst not being at home to support them. We have a very high suicide rate and people requiring mental health services in the Kimberley and our hospitals need to be upgraded to facilitate this type of care before more lives are lost.