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"My adult child and mental health professionals"

About: Albany Health Campus / Mental Health Unit

(as a carer),

I am a senior carer for my adult child who has mental health issues for the last 10 years. They have been under mental health for this time. Recently, they finally decided they wanted to put their life in order but to do this they needed help and thought it would be good to enter G ward at the hospital. They got an appointment with mental health to have the normal assessment before entering.

They were sent a message (which they still have) that they would be seeing a doctor of the same gender and their name. They find it more comfortable talking with someone of the same gender. But when they arrived there they were confronted with someone of the opposite gender and I believe was not told before hand. This sent their mind into a complete turmoil as they need to know if anything changes (part of their condition). This doctor then asked my child what they hoped to get out of the interview. Well my child was so upset I believe they said whatever came into their mind and not what they intended. They said the doctor said they could not help my child and I believe talked over them then when my child put their head in their hands, saying but I need help I can't do it alone, I believe the doctor said you have to do it yourself. My child then broke down and cried and I believe they busseled them out rather quickly. My child rang me to pick them up and was still crying while standing in the car park waiting. They said it's no use, they think I'm useless and a waste of time. I don't want to go back again.

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Responses

Response from Matt Wells, Regional Mental Health Manager, Mental Health Services, WACHS Great Southern 3 years ago
Matt Wells
Regional Mental Health Manager, Mental Health Services,
WACHS Great Southern

Manages Great Southern mental health services.

Submitted on 24/03/2021 at 12:54 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:55 PM


Dear needing help,

I am very sorry to see that the specialist appointment that you and your adult child had with our Community Mental Health Service did not happen as you had wanted or expected. It is always important that our service listens and works together with clients and their carers to ensure our service is client focussed and providing appropriate and safe care.

Given the anonymous nature of your letter, however, I am not able to fully investigate and assess what has happened, especially in the lead up to and on the day of your child’s appointment.

As the Regional Manager of the Mental Health Service, issues like this are a priority for me to review so we can work together to better understand what has happened and work to prevent them from re-occurring.

If and when you feel ready if you would like to contact me I would like to catch up and talk to you further.

Please contact me on 98922440 so we can arrange to talk either over the phone or meet in person.

I hope to talk to you soon.

Yours sincerely

Matt Wells

Regional Mental Health Manager

WACHS Great Southern Mental Health Services

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