It follows an ABC Four Corners investigation<\/a> documenting the mental health crisis in major Sydney hospitals.<\/p>\n Carers and patients have contacted the ABC claiming the mental health system in the regions was under mounting pressure even before a mass walkout of public psychiatrists earlier this year.<\/p>\n Jane \u2014 her real name withheld for privacy reasons \u2014 has been receiving treatment for clinical depression, borderline personality disorder and suicidal ideation in the Illawarra mental health system for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n She said she lost all trust in the public system when she was allegedly sexually assaulted while heavily sedated in an Illawarra mental health unit more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n “I can, I remember their faces because they were laughing at me during the assault,” she said.<\/p>\n Patients and carers say a lack of sufficient psychiatrists is impacting emergency and ongoing care. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)<\/p>\n Jane said she was traumatised by the incident and did not feel safe reporting the assault while still in the unit.<\/p>\n She said the experience still impacted the way she engaged with mental health services.<\/p>\n “I still feel reluctant to approach the system about that assault because I have zero trust,”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n she said.<\/p>\n The ABC contacted the lllawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) about Jane’s allegation to which they responded in a statement to say it “has not received a formal complaint matching the allegations raised”.<\/p>\n “NSW Health staff are required to share information with NSW Police about reports of sexual assault if the alleged perpetrator is identified as a NSW Health staff member,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Cost, access roadblocks<\/p>\n Jane said she had been unable to access a psychiatrist on an ongoing basis and claimed the lack of continuity of care felt like she was being pushed out of the system.<\/p>\n Jane says she can not access a psychiatrist through the public system. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)<\/p>\n “There is little to no access to psychiatrists once you have left hospital or if you have been treated as an outpatient within a community mental health service,” she said.<\/p>\n In an effort to seek psychiatric help, Jane visited a private practitioner she could not afford.<\/p>\n “I ended up paying $800 for a one-hour video consult, of which I received $245 back on Medicare,” she said.<\/p>\n “I had to take out an advance payment through Centrelink on my disability support pension.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Lack of continuing care<\/p>\n Jane’s mental health counsellor, Jodie Park, said continuity of care was important for patients such as Jane.<\/p>\n “She can access a very short-term mental health intervention after a presentation to emergency, but it’s not an ongoing thing,” Dr Park said.<\/p>\n “So she gets some very short-term advice and support, she may have a suggestion of a different diagnosis, but then she doesn’t have any continuation of care to check on that stuff.”<\/p>\n Dr Park said on one occasion, Jane, unable to book a psychiatric consultation, stopped taking a medication that was giving her nightmares.<\/p>\n “It is really dangerous if you need medication to remain stable,” Dr Park said.<\/p>\n “It is quite dangerous and scary to think you might be in a situation where you are making that choice not to take your medication because of a lack of support.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n ISLHD said it provided treatment in the community and in a hospital setting, including emergency care and short terms interventions.\u00a0<\/p>\n It said it tailored treatment to the needs of the individuals and, where relevant, their family and carers.<\/p>\n ‘Discharged into the ether’<\/p>\n Burrill Lake resident Carolyn Hogan said she noticed gaps in mental health support when her son Connor, who lived with schizophrenia, was discharged from care.<\/p>\n Connor Hogan, who overdosed on his medication and died in 2022, with his mother Carolyn Hogan. (Supplied)<\/p>\n Connor had been regularly attending Queanbeyan Mental Health Service to receive his medication intravenously as an outpatient.<\/p>\n In early 2022 he was deemed stable and discharged with oral medication.<\/p>\n If you or anyone you know needs help:<\/p>\n Ms Hogan said her son eventually stopped taking his medication and became unwell again, suffering psychotic episodes.<\/p>\n “I didn’t really know what to do at that stage,” Ms Hogan said.<\/p>\n “Several months later he just sneakily took his own life with the medication that was prescribed to him supposedly to help him with his schizophrenia.<\/p>\n “He may as well have been given a loaded gun.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n She said there was a shortfall when people were discharged with a serious mental illness.\u00a0<\/p>\n “There is nothing, you are just discharged into the ether,” she said.<\/p>\n Ms Hogan said prior to her son’s death, her only avenue for care was the emergency department which she knew would worsen his psychosis.<\/p>\n “It is entirely inappropriate for the staff who are not trained for these scenarios, or for the patients which require specialised attention,” she said.<\/p>\n “Anyone else with a life-threatening illness would never be discharged and left to fend for themselves.”<\/p>\n Crusade for Connor was set up in the wake of Connor Hogan’s death.<\/p>\n \u00a0 (Supplied: Crusade for Connor)<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Southern NSW Local Health District said “we extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Connor Hogan”.<\/p>\n The LHD said it would not comment on Connor Hogan’s case for privacy reasons but said “wherever possible, staff involved consumers, their families, and carers in decisions about admission, transfer, leave, and in discharge planning”.<\/p>\n Staff shortage worsening<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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