"Treatment order"

I was recently a patient on a treatment order at Upton House. This was my first time in this situation and I have found the need to express concerns and feedback with my experience:

- Upon being placed on the treatment order I was not given a copy of the patient rights booklet. The reason for the treatment order was not explained and section 4 and 5 of the form were not completed. I feel due diligence was not used to let me know what was going on - had full discretion been used I would have chosen a community treatment order.

- I was unhappy with the process of trying to gain a second opinion from a psychiatrist. I tried all avenues available including the second opinion help line; no one could give immediate assistance. In this situation I feel patients should have access to immediate second opinions to ensure the correct avenues of treatment are elected.

- I still feel I have been misdiagnosed, however it felt as though I had to take the medication offered or it would be forced. A very scary situation to be in, especially with no second opinion.

- The help numbers including mental health commissioner, mental health legal aid, Eastern Health, second opinions line all could not offer any immediate assistance to myself to resolve my concerns.

Considering I was on a treatment order it really felt like I had no patient rights and I was being forcibly treated in a way I would never have selected for myself.