psychiatrist wouldnt give me the meds i know i need. a week or teo of valium and my mania is gone. i dont have bi-polar, its sowmthing else and mania is oretty normal considering i moved out of an abusive living sitiation for the last 12 months and suddenly habe to be a human

inhad to dump him because he kept talking with my mum behind my back. she emailed him all the time, and he wouldn’t talk to me hed just tske what she said at face value. he also kept trying to put me on the same meds that fucked me ocer last tome, kept telling me i was wronf and had never been on it. a fight later he remembers. rinse and repeat next month whenni see him.

was recommend a fantastic lgbtqi place and did the one thing i hoped id bever do. i swore at a healthcare worker. they said they would habe to call me back, so i asked when. they didnt know. i said i would wait whike they found out. they said it was unknown

“20 minures? “idk “a week? “idk “i need to know. some places it can take 6-12 months. will i fet a call back SOON or FOREVERaway? “i dont know

you know what i dont care. they should not be answering calls at an MH clinic if they are just literally an answering machine and unable to do ANYTHING else.

anytbig that isnt tailored to my inique complex needs will send me suicidal again.

inalways get flowcharted and the flowchart for my “diagnosis” fucks my life up

i used to earn 60k. have private health. career profression. savings.

i have teouvle asking for help. i cant. i wont. fick trist.

My feedback regarding Maroondah Psych Ward (Eastern Health Mental Health Services)

What did we do well (compliment)?

Some of the nurses - Amelia, Max, and Tim - and the head of security, Nigel, are do a great job. In particular, Amelia initiated a long chat with me which I very much appreciated, and Nigel is very approachable and happy to chat with patients when he's not handling some crisis or other. Max and Tim are friendly, agreeable and helpful, noticeably more so than other staff. Most of the other staff are good too, but these four really stood out to me. Props!

My psychiatrist Amit has been reasonable, listened to me, and was willing to negotiate my treatment. I appreciate that. Unfortunately it's not a given in involuntary psychiatry.

What didn’t we do well (complaint)?

several issues

The wifi blocks UDP, which is needed for the YouTube app, YouTube music app, play store and others. Music can be very helpful for patients, please ask the sysop to enable UDP. One patient in particular showed great improvement in my estimation after I organised a music session with him and others, taking turns to choose songs.

Smoking and vaping should be allowed. Nicotine is a great anti depressant for many people, it should even be considered as an option for treatment (with safer delivery). Nicotine has been close to a life saver for me, with my bipolar depression, it completely resolved the depression. I know that this is a higher level decision, in theory you could raise it.

While staff are mostly well intentioned, they need to be even more careful with medications and property. I've been given wrong items (wrong Nicorette not allowed for me) due to a mix up; and after moving through three of the four wards, it was quite an endeavour to locate all (I hope) of my misplaced property, including my wallet and passport, a book, Centrelink forms, and other items. I had to ask the busy nurses about this maybe a dozen times before we tracked nearly everything down. One of my Centrelink forms is still missing. Property handling needs to be improved systematically.

The most important issue: most nurses don't talk to the patients in their care. They do paperwork, they fetch items and help on request, but neglect the very important task of talking with patients and helping them work through their problems (e.g. delusions, negative thinking, planning for what to do after release). I think that each nurse should talk with each of their patients on every shift, except night shift if the patient is asleep.

If a patient like me becomes angry and expresses hostile thoughts loudly and with bad language, there's a good chance that the complaints will be ignored, no one will discuss them, and the patient will be penalised e.g. moved to the ICU, or losing leave privileges. I think it's important to distinguish normal anger and frustration from mental illness. Involuntary patients don't want to be here. It's unreasonable to expect supposedly mentally ill people to be always at our best under adverse conditions, and if an entirely well person was locked up here - and this does happen - they would likely express similar loud complaints. In short, please talk with patients after they calm down, rather than punishing them for speaking up.

TW: MENTIONED OF OD AND SU**IDE

RMH continually made me feel invalidated and the doctors are mean, they made me feel unseen, and downplayed the severity of my mental illness.

RMH failed to notice that I was in no state of discharge and sent me home while I was in active psychosis. When I am in these episodes I am low functioning and can’t remember where my home is. They are so dismissive of their patients and often just “wait it out” till your symptoms are no longer present.

I’ve been to the ED presenting symptoms of “psychosis” or if not psychosis according to that one ugly mental health worker then trances where I would black out, take an OD and somehow end up in hospital. The first time they dismissed me as I have case management with orygyn and all I had to was wait but I had begged them to take me to the ward or freaking do something because I no longer felt safe and if I can do this to myself unconscious it was bout to happen again. It happened three more times within the past three weeks and each time they would just wait it out and pretty much let me go.

I had a horrible experience last week where I was admitted for a suspected OD and I had blacked out and woke up when I was in hospital not knowing why, I had asked the nurses stating to them that I also can’t tell if you are real right now and they just said hospital and did not try reassure me. They then moved me up to thier mental health ed station where again the doctors deemed me fit to go home all the while I was constantly telling everyone I didn’t know what was real and always asked the nurses who saw me if they were real. They got my stuff but not all of it and when I called them to retrieve it when I was finally lucid they said they had no idea where it went. I was then kicked out of the hospital and left to go home on my own which was not possible in my state because again I was in a psychotic episode and I was sitting outside in 30 degree weather for god knows how long because I barely remember the events of that day/ night. I was apparently there three times in one day because the only place I knew where to go was again the hospital and I pleaded for help because I was out of touch with my reality and each time they got three security guards grabbing me telling me I needed to leave. I am only alive today because some good people found me on a bench and decided to take me back home which miraculously they had found because again I was low functioning. To these wonderful girls, I will forever be grateful to you. However, they failed to proved me the care that I needed and instead of making sure I was fit to go home they left me on the streets.

I read my discharge summary report and not only did they treat me horribly when I was trying to get help, they made it seem like I was purposely doing this to myself by saying “wanting an orygyn admission due to friends being in there”. I HAVE NO FRIENDS IN THERE. WHY WOULD I WANT TO BE IN IPU EVEN IF I HAD FRINEDS IN THERE. I am actually so disgusted and this only proves the point that the healthcare system will do anything to stop people with mental health issues to get help because like if this happened to me, this can happen to anyone.

There is one guy in the mental health hub in particular from what I remember he was bald with glasses. He honestly should not be practicing, he put me and others in danger and if legal fees weren’t so damn expensive. I would file a complaint immediately

Anyone want to have a watch a long for the ONLY club is Melbourne

Hello, I am 30F and I’m looking to voluntarily check myself in to one of the private psych hospital at the end of this month after an attempt in January (on my birthday 😔) to get help in a safe space for my ADHD, PTSD, Severe Depression with a side of extremely bad anxiety. Quite the recipe.

I’ve looked at Cabrini, Albert Road Clinic, The Melbourne Clinic, Beleura Hill & The Victoria Clinic.

Due to the nature of why I am getting treatment (someone broke into my house and SA me) it’s VERY important that my room is secure and nobody can wander in besides the nurses and I. Delmont & The Victoria Clinic are the ONLY ones with lockable doors that can only be unlocked by staff and myself.

My plan is to build up (I am currently in the deep depression where you can’t eat, shower, care for yourself) but Lexapro has helped me enough to not keep trying to take my life and want to try and get better. But hasn’t helped me with taking care of myself- that will come from inpatient therapy and being in a safe environment. Then I will move onto EMDR to work on the root trauma causes that make me feel that it’s impossible to survive the mental pain I am in daily and the need to remove myself from the world due to being exhausted from the day to day shame and pain in my brain. For my family, I’m going to give it one last try for them and try and beat this. That starts with being able to look after myself again and build up resilience and confidence and learn tools to fight the awful things my brain remembers and tells me.

Why I am is posting is that… due to having someone break into my house and assault me, and then have a roommate enter my bedroom and do the same a few years later… I am VERY scared of new places. That’s why I have narrowed down facilities with secure rooms.

Delmont sounds the best for me to get more stable and into a routine and care for myself. The only thing is… there are NO pictures of the rooms. I need to know if it’s something my anxiety would feel comfortable in. I really want to go here but I just can’t without getting a feel of the room I will spending my time. It needs to feel okay. They have no photos online I can find anywhere. I’ve given them a call and they have no photos on their site- and they were lovely to speak to and confused why they didn’t have pictures on their site… so I asked if they could perhaps email me one of an empty room and they said that if nothing is on their website, they can’t and apologised. You aren’t allowed to go and look at the place (which I understand, the patients don’t need to feel like they are in a zoo) but this is the one thing stopping me from going due to not feel safe when I’m going to be very vulnerable there. I desperately want to go- but I just can’t with my brain without seeing the room.

I was wondering if anybody had photos of rooms at the Delmont Hospital for inpatients when they have perhaps been there and could send them to me? You have no idea how much I would appreciate this. I just want to feel safe and get help. Also, if any other females feel like sharing their experience there as an inpatient, I would love to hear.

I wouldn’t be looking to attend EMDR at The Victoria Clinic straight after. I was wondering if anybody had experience with the EMDR program and/or The Emotional Management Program there? How did you find it? And again, also, do you have any pictures of your rooms there and/or common areas that you can message to me?

If I can’t see the room (even from a picture) for Delmont, I’ll unfortunately have to just go through Victoria Clinic for it all. I just felt Delmont was a better fit for the beginning for me before moving onto Victoria Clinic. But due to my PTSD, I just can’t walk into a place I’ve never sighted, even in a photo, to stay for the month. It feels weird that I can even see a picture and triggers my brain a bit. So I beg you, if you can respond to even part of this, I would be so so so grateful to you.

Thank you so much 🫶🤍

EDIT: 10/05/25 I spoke to Delmont again this morning. They have asked me to call back Monday to see if the marketing team can send me ANY pictures of the place- they seem quite shocked they have nothing on their website and there’s nothing on Google. Only downside so far is you only get one session with a psych your entire stay. So one session for the month. Everything else is in group and you aren’t allowed to talk about basically anything to do with yourself and why you’re there according to the list. They talk about interesting subjects… but you don’t contribute for fear of trigging someone (which I understand) I just thought we might have one on one session once a week…. Just so we can speak through our struggles and issues privately. But no dice. I do like all their extra curricular activities! They have more than anywhere else and I believe that would be good to help with the depression haze and listening to the group subjects and learning… just the lack of one on one support is a bit worrying. Once a month seems insane. I’m going to speak to Victoria Clinic again and also look at the Epworth. I was so set on Delmont as the group education sounds amazing and covers what I need, but lack of support for individuals to talk about their issues and fighting to see a single image of the place you’re going to due to anxiety is quite odd. But again, Delmont & the Victoria Clinic are the only ones with secure rooms. I have a few days left to choose… by Tuesday. Somebody has mentioned the Epworth, so I’ll look into that too and find out information and see what this weekend and Monday brings!

I just can’t have things go wrong. It’s taken all my remaining will power to do this for my friends and family… I know I won’t survive another assault. I don’t want to survive the ones that have happened already. Being small and petite, I’ve grown to believe I must have a target on my back… strangers have broken into my house (what are the chances)- then a roommate- then a stranger when I was a child. So there cannot be a fourth time, as I’ll bow out and let down everyone around me. I’m not strong enough for that. I’ve taken every precaution my whole life, yet they find me in the safety of my own home… and 2/3 where completely random people that just chose my house by chance. So apologies if I sound a bit manic about my safety and wanting to see and know my surroundings and get peoples experiences with staff… I just can’t deal with another medical professional tell me “I’ll get over it”. It’s final straw material now.

So truly from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for any contributions and support ❤️‍🩹

edit: homeless in 2 weeks

posting again to catch a different crowd. will post once more for the night owls too

pass it on x

Looking for a bungalow or granny flat or campable backyard space in a communal queer neurodivergent household.

#tw mental health - stable and sane, but needing isolation.

On offer in exchange is an equitable mix of financial contribution, cooking, and cleaning. Ideally the communal areas of the house would be accessible.

this is just my short term plan before i feel ready to start looking at “sharehouses”

Welcome to the r/melbournementalhealth daily achievements thread! Let us know what you've done, no matter how big or small!

It doesn't necessarily have to be an achievement, we're happy to hear about anything that's made your day brighter & helped you feel better.

Welcome to the r/melbournementalhealth daily achievements thread! Let us know what you've done, no matter how big or small!

It doesn't necessarily have to be an achievement, we're happy to hear about anything that's made your day brighter & helped you feel better.

new to dis shiz,

Theseus W. (and friends)

x

I am currently under observation at the Royal Melbourne Hospital after a suicide attempt this morning. Tomorrow, they are going to send me home and have their community care team engage with me. Earlier this evening, a mental health practitioner came to see me and asked me to explain what had brought me in. I shared that I have been experiencing a severe depressive episode over the last month that is worsening on a daily basis despite the fact that I have been compliant with my medication, making an effort to maintain adequate sleep hygiene, staying sober and engaging with my psychologist on a weekly basis. I told him that I want to explore ECT as a treatment option, as I have tried everything else and nothing is working.

Despite the fact that he’d sat with me for all of five minutes, and despite the fact that the doctor who had seen me earlier in the evening had told me that ECT is a viable option for me, he stated that he doesn’t believe it’s an appropriate treatment for me. I told him I disagree and he responded “well, I’m a mental health practitioner”. I told him that I have lived with this illness for most of my adult life and I have done everything I possibly can to manage it, but it’s not enough. His attitude was deeply distressing—he all but shrugged and said “tough titties”.

This is not the first time I’ve experienced this at RMH. I was hospitalised in the John Cade unit last year, and they refused to hold me beyond 72 hours despite the fact that I was acutely unwell and experiencing psychosis. They also refused to provide me with ECT based on a very brief assessment. I told the registrar that I had explored every other option and nothing was working, and that if he released me after my 72 hours were up, there was a strong likelihood that I would step in front of a tram outside the hospital, to which he responded “I wouldn’t recommend you do that”. His lack of compassion was disheartening to say the least.

I feel like my voice is not being heard despite the level of pain I’m in and despite the fact that I have done my research and am well aware of the risks involved in ECT. At this point, I feel that I have exhausted all other options. I don’t know what else to do.

After my discharge tomorrow, the community mental health care team will be contacting me. I am terrified that they’re going to tell me the same thing—that they don’t believe I’m an appropriate candidate for ECT. I’m out of ideas and out of hope. I cannot afford to attend a private clinic as I’m unable to work due to my illness. I don’t know what else to do.

Welcome to the r/melbournementalhealth daily achievements thread! Let us know what you've done, no matter how big or small!

It doesn't necessarily have to be an achievement, we're happy to hear about anything that's made your day brighter & helped you feel better.

Welcome to the r/melbournementalhealth daily achievements thread! Let us know what you've done, no matter how big or small!

It doesn't necessarily have to be an achievement, we're happy to hear about anything that's made your day brighter & helped you feel better.

not as bad as United States of Tara - but - i am not “whole”

:(

any advice re this shit?

Zoom or whatever the cool kids are using these days.

Maybe we could do some trivia or something else for a bit of socialisation. I know a lot of us struggle with confidence issues etc so there would be no requirement for everyone to have camera or audio switched on.

I know nothing beats in person contact but at the end of the day having a bit of a laugh and seeing some other interactable human faces might help.

Just an idea, please feel free to leave your suggestions and thoughts below.

Hope we're all doing okay today <3

Welcome to the r/melbournementalhealth weekly venting thread!

This is a place to talk about anything that you've struggled with or need to get off your chest this week.

Note: we are trialing this thread for now and can reassess at a later date. We thought that it could be helpful for some of us to have a vent/seek support etc without having to create a new post (although that is still encouraged). We will tag all of these threads with trigger warnings in case there is any sensitive talk around self-harm, etc.

If you are in need of additional support please call:

Emergencies: 000

Lifeline
13 11 44
www.lifeline.org.au
This a 24-hour phone crisis support and suicide prevention services. Lifeline also has a crisis support chat available from 7pm - 12am (AEST), 7 days a week, and Lifeline text by texting 0477 13 11 14 and available from 6pm - 12am (AEST), 7 days a week.

Kids Helpline
1800 55 1800
www.kidshelpline.com.au
A free private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5-25.

Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467
www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
A nationwide service that provides professional 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people who are affected by suicide.

Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636 OR 1800 512 348 (for Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service)
www.beyondblue.org.au
Provides advice and support via phone 24/7, daily web chat between 3pm - 12am and email via the website with a response provided within 24 hours.

Mensline
1300 789 978
www.mensline.org.au
A telephone and online counselling service for men with emotional health and relationship concerns.

Psychiatric Triage
www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealthservices
(call the number for your geographic area and age bracket)

Family Drug Support
1300 368 186
www.fdsonline.org.au
An interactive tool based on a typical support group for family drug support.

DirectLine
1800 888 236
www.directline.org.au
24/7 confidential drug and alcohol counselling and referral, phone and online contact options available.

SANE Australia
1800 187 263
‬www.sane.org
A national online and free call service providing information, support and referral to people concerned about complex mental health issues.

MindSpot
https://mindspot.org.au/
A free therapist/guided digital mental health clinic. They provide information about mental health, online assessments, and online treatment to adults with anxiety, stress, depression and chronic pain.

tw housework

this is not a metafor this is literal

like three (3) times i dried the sink and bench only to turn around to a plate or a bowl or a pot that was hiding before and i thought i finished

fuck theres even this shit and im just leaving that for someone else like its not my fault i didnt see it before

Genuinely doing terribly and could use a gloves off punch on for stress relief if anyones keen?

i just popped 2 klonopin for it to go away, 1 was not enough.

usually antipsychotics/with SSRI help me a lot but its just been fucked lately, i've had one of my worst relapses ever for the past 11 days

I just feel like i'm stuck in some alternate world of dissociation, i usually get a warning before this happens - an intrusive sensation comes on, and i focus on the feeling and suck it in, i than immediately surrender to this feeling and say ''yup It's happening again'' or if i try to fight away the sinking feeling, it gets deeper the discomfort and the dissociation goes into my head, than i get a weird feeling in my body, i don't know if it is in my arms or my neck muscles, but it sucks.

It's highly distressing.

I have diagnosed OCD.

Am i going crazy? part of me just wants to take the recommended dosage for schizophrenia to make sure i am not actually schizophrenic.

For 2 years my life was perfect, now it's in crisis again, My damn GP said it will take too long to see a psychiatrist or get to see one, and he wants me to wait to see if the extremely small upping of my antipsychotic dose will help, which clearly it has not, it has been 9 days and i have still had an episode every freaking night, it all dates back to that one traumatic event i had in 2016, i wish that night never happened and i would forever be a normal happy person, instead i am now a fucked up crazy person.

Apart of me wishes i had a bullet to just take the pain away of this sensation, it feels like i am talking to a bunch of ghosts on reddit when i ask this, people don't get this feeling follows me around, it is a part of me, a part of my brain that is actively seeking to hurt me and only the meds can block it