"Lack of mental health care and compassion in ED"

I recently took my child to the Emergency Department (ED) following a GP appointment who told me to take him directly to ED with a referral. The referral stated my child had a major depressive episode and was at risk of self-harm, contemplating suicide and self-harmed that morning. 

So we rock up to ED - yes it’s busy - we speak to the Triage Nurse who reiterated about 4 times that we were going to be there for hours. 

My child who is already antsy about being in ED and this information makes them even more anxious

So 1 hour later, still sitting in ED not seen by anyone - my child walks out. 

I go to the Triage Nurse to get back the referral letter from the GP and advise that my child has left and doesn’t want to stay for treatment.  Only to be met with a blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders - nice to know my child's life means that much to a health professional. 

Getting my child to the ED in the first place was a huge undertaking. Months of stress on me trying to get them to seek treatment. 

But my child was only treated as a number with complacency and just another number we have to trudge through. 

So my child has left ED - I don’t know where they are and still suffering from suicidal thoughts. 

That’s the problem with this health system.  Instead of reiterating that you will be there for hours - maybe offer some kind of alternative as it was serious enough for me to take my child to the GP  and serious enough for the GP to tell them to go to ED - my child was asking for help and didn’t get it. 

I just hope my child makes their way back home safely today as I have driven everywhere looking for them.