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Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

Unknown userMember01 Mar 2020, 12:12 pm AEDT

Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

*POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING, BUT I'M NOT TRYING TO TRIGGER ANYONE.*

And if this isn't posted in an appropriate thread, feel free to move it.

Hi all. I have some questions please, but please note that I'm not going to do anything or go there, these are just questions.

What happens when you call 000 (I assume you would ask for Ambulance or Police?) for mental health, so say if you were going to do something or attempted or just that the thoughts were really strong, or if you couldn't get through to somewhere like Lifeline? (I've never called for this reason).
If you went to a triage, what do they do? Do they just put you on heaps of meds and admit you, or can they just support you (kind of like a group where you share your story with others, or?)

I ask this because my Psychiatrist referred me to the local triage, but when I exchanged phone calls with them, they were all extremely rude and unhelpful and refused to help me or even let me ask questions, or tell me anyone that could help me. They said that they don't even know why my Psychiatrist wasted his time because they're not going to help me and they just admit people rather than give them support or tell me who else can help. Yes I told my Psychiatrist this, and my new GP.

As mentioned above, I'm not going to do anything, I'm just curious.

Thanks. Also please note I'm not trying to trigger anyone, just questions, hence why I wrote that up the top in caps.

I'll tag everyone below that I've talked to on the forums.

@Former-Member @NNY @Bunniekins @eth @Valentine @MDT @CheerBear @TheVorticon @Shaz51 @Snowie @outlander @Faith-and-Hope @Sans911 @WriterMelb @TAB (I hope I got all of the usernames right. No one has to reply if they're unsure or don't want to)

65 replies

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In response to: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

TABSenior Contributor01 Mar 2020, 12:18 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

sure someone could answer that @Former-Member I really dont know, have been there, seen when people taken away , but I don't know, sorry

In response to: Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

Unknown userMember01 Mar 2020, 12:20 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

No worries @TAB , I understand.

It's no big deal really, I'm just curious. The new GP and my Psychiatrist have just explained that they support people but the triage were rude and said that they just admit people so they can't help me, so I don't know what to believe and who to listen to. It's confusing. I'm not going to go there or do anything but it's just been on my mind.

I'll ask the GP and my Psychiatrist when I see them again.

I hope I didn't trigger and upset anyone because I feel bad. I just tagged everyone who I've talked to on here, my apologies. All good though that you don't have an answer, no problem. I understand it's more of a professional type thing

In response to: Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

TABSenior Contributor01 Mar 2020, 12:22 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

well some of the people tagged have self admitted think @Former-Member perhaps ask @Former-Member sure post is all fine

In response to: Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

Unknown userMember01 Mar 2020, 12:25 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

@Former-Member feel free to delete this if you like.

@TAB yeah as I said I'll ask my GP and Psychiatrist when I see them again, my Psychiatrist especially.

It's just confusing because I don't know who and what to believe, it's been on my mind. I mean I'd believe my Psychiatrist the most but then the actual triage says another thing and then they're all rude? (I spoke to about 3 or 4 people on the phone there).

I told my Psychiatrist last time and he literally said "well they're a ridiculous service then"

In response to: Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

TABSenior Contributor01 Mar 2020, 12:25 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

just off to shops here @Former-Member if no/slow reply, hope you get your answer

a quick google says 24hr numbers in each state to ring for MH Triage ..

In response to: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

ethSenior Contributor01 Mar 2020, 12:25 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

Hi @Former-Member I haven't rung 000 except for when neighbours were a problem or I had an intruder so I can't answer that part of your query sorry.

My experiences with ringing local triage have varied - I've been there several times but not in the last few years so things might have changed. Basically they ask you a bunch of questions to check out if you're a risk to yourself or others, and if you're in a crisis. And then if needed they send ambulance who then call police if you don't go voluntarily with the ambulance. I think. Like I said it may have changed since I did it, and also may vary from area to area.

In my experience if my psychiatrist had referred me to them, the psychiatrist would call them while I was with him/her. At other times I rang them myself. Sometimes they have had a longer discussion with me to get to the crux of the matter and advise what I can do, but at other times they seem to just go through their list of questions.

This is just from my personal experience and not necessarily what your local CAT team (crisis and triage) does.

I would be speaking to my psychiatrist again as soon as possible if the CAT team deems you ok but you know you are not. I also have a couple of support people (in my case they are family members) who have my permission to make the call if I have lost insight into what's happening for me.

In response to: Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

Unknown userMember01 Mar 2020, 12:26 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

No worries @TAB , I'm off to get some lunch and go for a walk so I'll reply later.

I know the number for the local triage, but they're all just rude.

Speak to you and others soon, take care

In response to: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

BunniekinsSenior Contributor01 Mar 2020, 12:29 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

triage

/ˈtriːɑːʒ/

Learn to pronounce

noun

(in medical use) the assignment of degrees of urgency to wounds or illnesses to decide the order of treatment of a large number of patients or casualties.
Medical Definition of triage
1 : the sorting of and allocation of treatment to patients and especially battle and disaster victims according to a system of priorities designed to maximize the number of survivors. 2 : the sorting of patients (as in an emergency room) according to the urgency of their need for care.Dec 18, 2019What happens when you call Triple Zero (000)? When you dial Triple Zero (000) you will first hear the recorded message: 'You have dialled emergency Triple Zero. Your call is being connected. ' An operator will answer your call and ask whether you need police, fire and rescue or ambulance.Feb 28, 2017number, name, nearest cross street, and locality. In rural areas it is important to give the full address and distances from landmarks and roads, not just the name of the property. Don't hang up until the operator has all the information they need. emergency services to arrive to assist them to locate the emergency.@Former-Member

In response to: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

WriterMelbSenior Contributor01 Mar 2020, 12:34 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the tWriterpic)

I've had mixed results with the triage / cat team thing. My observation is that they only seem to deal with you after you have been in crisis. they are capable but have limited resources that they closely guard. I have stretched my limited resources to health insurance. When in crisis private hospitals usually can get me admitted in two days or less. This option has helped me a great deal. Unfortunatley mental health is chronically underfunded.

WriterMelb

In response to: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

CheerBearSenior Contributor01 Mar 2020, 12:36 pm AEDT

Re: Triage questions (not sure what else to name the topic)

Hi @Former-Member 🙂

I think what happens when community based crisis services get involved (like triage and CATT) can depend a bit on where you live and what services are offered in your area. Where I am, triage is a phone based service who can support you by referring to emergency services (ambulance), crisis support teams (here it used to be called CATT - 'crisis assessment and treatment team' but they've changed their name though we all still know them as CATT), community based services, or give advice and guidance over the phone. I found the statewide triage guide (the document outlining criteria and processes) by Googling it. It's full on info and I think pretty interesting.

Sorry you found triage unhelpful. I have had a few very unhelpful experiences with them also, though the last two times I've accessed their service have been really positive experiences for me. Each time they've referred me on to CATT which is where more of the support and referrals (like groups, individual support, programs, respite, hospital etc) can happen. CATT is another mixed bag for me though generally my experiences have been increasingly more positive and helpful.

Wondering whether you feel like you need some extra support at the moment?

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