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No help & communication for my relative

Posted By scorpiuskr58

"No help & communication for my relative"

About: Mirrabooka Community Mental Health

(as a parent/guardian),

We were told to contact Mirrabooka Community Mental Health concerning my relative & from day one we had trouble. Had to wait weeks for their 1st Doctors appointment inbetween we needed help with my relative's mental health & nothing was done for us. I spoke to people on the phone & they were going to get back to us, but Mirrabooka MH did not even ring us at all to assess my relative. After numerous calls the person dealing with this, never got back to me. They were going to come to assess my relative, but instead they sent someone else who stayed with my relative for 10 minutes & we never heard from them again. 

I believe more contact & more communication is needed. My relative needs a case worker. But I believe their case worker is on holidays & still has a few weeks to go. So my relative has gotten no help from you all in weeks. 

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Responses

Response from Theresa Marshall, Executive Director, Mental Health, Public Health and Dental Services, North Metropolitan Health Service last month
Theresa Marshall
Executive Director, Mental Health, Public Health and Dental Services,
North Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 21/05/2025 at 6:57 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia on 22/05/2025 at 8:51 AM

Dear scorpuiski58,

I am terribly sorry that you have had such difficulty in your contact with Mirrabooka Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) and that your relative is in a vulnerable position without attention to their mental health needs. This must be very worrying for you.

Generally, the process for assessment and treatment within CMHS is as follows:

As an initial step, the consumer is considered by the Assessment and Treatment Team (ATT) which provides triage, assessment and time-limited care coordination and facilitates further care pathways if they are needed. ATT appointments can occur in the clinic or the client’s home depending on the needs of the consumer. The ATT makes a decision as to whether the consumer needs to progress to a mental health assessment. Where the team considers that there are no immediate mental health risks or indication for further input by a psychiatrist in the short-term, the consumer may be directed to other services or professionals, such as the consumer’s General Practitioner. If the ATT makes the clinical decision that the consumer needs further care, they may link them with the Community Treatment Team (CTT). Thereafter they are medically reviewed and may be activated/admitted into the service depending on the outcome of the review.

The lack of communication, long delays in follow-up with your relative and lack of clarity about future clinical services sound concerning. So that we may address the issues specifically related to your relative’s case, you can contact either:

the Triage Officer at the Mirrabooka CMHS clinic on (08) 9344 5400; or the Mental Health Services Consumer Liaison Service on 9242 9612 or via email on mhsdhs.cls@health.wa.gov.au

Thank you for your feedback and I hope that this assists with your relative accessing the care that they need.

Kind regards,

Theresa Marshall

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