"Handling mental health"

As someone who struggles with mental health and has presented to Maroondah a few times recently due to related issues, I have witnessed the appalling treatment of mentally ill patients by the Emergency Department nurses.

I believe I have witnessed the nurses make jokes about and laugh at patients who, in my opinion, may be mentally ill, for things beyond their control, from the safety of the nurses' base, as though no one can hear them. 

I have been afraid of communicating with the nurses, even when my safety is at risk, for fear of being mocked and humiliated. For this reason, I refuse to present at Maroondah Hospital, even in an ambulance in an emergency. 

In my opinion, the nurses need extensive training on mental health, confidentiality and boundaries.