Mental Health requires compassionate, quick and expert help, which I didn’t see in Queensland’s Mental Health Access Line.
My advice is not to have a mental health issue in Queensland as the State Government’s Mental Health Access Line may not be there to support you.
Release My Super helps addicts release superannuation to pay for private rehab. A client’s wife was trying to get immediate help for her husband who during a psychotic episode was walking the streets of Brisbane, bare foot and disorientated.
Our client’s wife and our staff were ignored during 6 separate calls to the 1300 MH CALL (1300 642255) Mental Health Access Line when all she needed was support, help, and advice.
We were transferred to 3 separate hospital units, NONE of which claimed to have the jurisdiction to provide telephone advice or at all.
The last hospital, the Gold Coast Hospital provided a support telephone number that was not even connected.
In the end, our client rang Lifeline 13 11 14 and she got immediate support.
This scenario still has the risk of going horribly wrong, with a drug-addicted husband wanting to go back into a home with two children under 10 years of age.
In this situation, the Queensland Mental Health Access Line gave us, No help – No support – No advice.
Mental Health Treatment requires compassion
When I rang the Mental Health Access Line and drew the operator’s attention to their stated mandate, we were told to ring another number.
By the way, the 1300 MH CALL service access Line claims to help with the following: –
- is the main point of access into public mental health services
- can provide support, information, advice and referral
- can provide advice and information in a mental health emergency or crisis
- is staffed by trained and experienced professional mental health clinicians
- will provide a mental health triage and refer to acute care teams where appropriate.”
No assistance in Queensland for Mental Health
If you need help, my experience tells me to ring Queensland Police or Lifeline on 13 11 14 or go to another State for help.
The above scenario is unacceptable and has the potential to end in loss of life.
UPDATE 5 hours since writing this Blog
Our client presented to the Gold Coast Hospital after taking a gram of ice in less than 15 minutes, he is desperate. The hospital has refused admission to a psych ward or even for general review. He told me this afternoon that he is psychotic and suicidal but I’m not a doctor.
By Robert Rushford, Release My Super 1300 090 261.
Release My Super can assist with t
