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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)

Sans911Senior Contributor02 Mar 2020, 12:47 pm AEDT

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

I got rejected for the dsp the first time @Former-Member. I believe it happens a lot. I had to appeal and wait 18 months. You need pretty strong letters from as many professionals as you can get.

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

Unknown userMember02 Mar 2020, 2:51 pm AEDT

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

Sorry to hear that, @Sans911 that's hard though.

What would an example of really strong letters be? Perhaps stuff like I can't work because nowhere will hire me and I get too anxious around people, have flashbacks because of PTSD etc? I mean all of that is true for me

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

Sans911Senior Contributor02 Mar 2020, 5:59 pm AEDT

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

It's more to do with your capacity to work and the impact of your mental illness on your life @Former-Member. I don't think that no one will hire you. Perhaps you just haven't found what fits you or a work place that is supportive. Your pyschiatrist and gp can both write letters but they generally need to say that your mental illness is permanent and despite treatment you won't be cured.

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

Unknown userMember02 Mar 2020, 6:33 pm AEDT

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

Oh okay @Sans911 , I get you, fair enough.

I guess that's up to them to decide especially my Psychiatrist, I honestly don't know. I don't think I'll ever be cured and yeah I know there's others who unfortunately struggle more than me but still.

I've tried to get jobs where I live in this small town, I have no skills but I'm willing to learn, nowhere will hire me. That's why I applied for DSP too plus my parents and Psychiatrist suggested it so I did what they said. Sigh

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

Sans911Senior Contributor02 Mar 2020, 8:40 pm AEDT

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

It's just the wording they have to use @Former-Member. I should have explained. It doesn't mean that have to live your life with severe mental illness. Mental illness is a spectrum of ok to not OK. I know you're aware of that. When they say uncurable t just means that you will always have some degree of mental illness. What treatment does is allow you to have a life that's worth living. Whatever that looks like for you. So it might mean a different type of work so that you can manage your anxiety.

For me right now it's volunteer work. It makes me feel useful and gives me purpose and reasons to leave my house. But I struggke with it sometimes too. And although I'm looking at going back to work, I can't work in the same capacity or hours that I used to work.

I'm sorry if what I have said made you feel dissapointed and upset.

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

Unknown userMember02 Mar 2020, 8:44 pm AEDT

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

Fair enough, I get what you mean, and no you didn't upset or disappoint me at all, it's okay @Sans911

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

Sans911Senior Contributor02 Mar 2020, 8:54 pm AEDT

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

I'm glad you understand @Former-Member.

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

Unknown userMember02 Mar 2020, 8:58 pm AEDT

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

Of course, you didn't upset and disappoint me in any way @Sans911

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

WriterMelbSenior Contributor02 Mar 2020, 9:39 pm AEDT

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

@Former-Member

I hope I'm not talking too much.

With the DSP the forms we completed, all the evidence possible was supplied. (Copies only) This included evidence of:

- cat team visits

- ED admission for treatment

- Psych ward short stays

- Leters addressing DSP criteria from specialists. GP, Shrink, Psychologist.

- Records of all longer term hospital admissions.
- Records of Ambulance emergencies.

You get the idea? Include everything you can! And treat it as a project. It was hard and I couldn't have done it without help.

I know it's not the end of the road but it does feel like at times. Now I'm on it I have much less stress. I can only write this stuff when I'm good, If I'm dipped, forget it.

It is possible to get the DSP. I succeded maybe by showing the serious long term problems with HEAPS OF EVIDENCE. It looks so bad reading back over it. Maybe I stood out as a chronic deserving case compared to other applicants.

i hope this helps your understanding re getting the DSP.

WriterMelb

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

Unknown userMember02 Mar 2020, 10:55 pm AEDT

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

You're not talking too much @WriterMelb , I enjoy your company aswell as everyone else I've spoken to here.

Thanks for explaining that for me. I probably got rejected since I don't have any of that because I've never been admitted to hospital for mental health, only a surgery in 2018 that was necessary. Sometimes I want to go into places like that but I also don't, I don't know. My parents reckon it wouldn't be good for me, and my Psychiatrist says the public mental health hospital or whatever you call it wouldn't be good for me, so I assume he means a psychiatric ward. I don't know much about them.

But I will say, movies and TV shows have portrayed those places to be horrible. Maybe they are, I don't know, I feel sorry for those in there, all around the world. I don't know if it's the same overseas in places like USA and UK either. I've heard some bad stories about those places just online and whatnot, but also some good stuff such as saying it's not as bad as what people think, people can function fine and they just do activities or they can rest if they like. I mean that kind of sounds alright and less scary? I suppose it depends on a lot of things too such as the place, staff, and so forth.

Arent there different I guess you could say, "levels" (I don't know the correct wording, sorry) for psych wards? For instance, a place for people who can function but are really depressed and need help, and anxious. Then other places for the more severe so those with Schizophrenia or something? I don't mean this in a rude way, there's just no other way to say it.

Atleast you got the DSP and you have some weight off your shoulders, good job if you don't mind me saying so (just being polite)

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