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How do triages work please?

How do triages work please?

Hi everyone, if anyone reads and replies to this (no pressure but I'd appreciate it and some advice please, it's fine if no one knows). Mods feel free to move this if it's not in the right place as I always say.

Anyway, I was just wondering how triages work please? My Psychiatrist referred me there, however when I exchanged phone calls with them through the 24/7 number (it was a 1300 number or something and everytime they answered they said "hello, mental health triage"), they were extremely rude and unhelpful and pushed me away.

I tried to explain to them that my Psychiatrist referred me there and asked them what they do and if they can help me or if not, tell me people who can. They refused. They basically said that "we don't know why your Psychiatrist referred you here, he's wasting his time and we're not going to help you and we refuse to", word for word. I called them about 5 or so times back and forth and every person was rude, not one spoke to me and helped. This is offputting and traumatic for me. I didn't know much about a triage anyway and I expected them to help but nope.

I told my Psychiatrist this and he's disgusted and said they should be helping me, and he said "they're a ridiculous service then" so I apologised to him for wasting his time and that I was upset because I don't know why they're like that.

He told me that all the triages he's worked with (he's in Sydney and I'm in Victoria) support people in support groups or similar things, just talking therapy I guess, I don't know, I'm not sure really. So I thought oh okay, that should be good, perhaps a group session, nope.

So my question is, what should I do, should I complain saying they're refusing to help me and discriminating me? I don't want to try again because of how i've been treated and I've never even been there. Can someone please tell me what they're supposed to do? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

Also not trying to pressure anyone but if you haven't already (anyone is welcome), please check out my threads and comment if you like:

1. Is anyone around tonight? Depressed and suicidal

2. @musicfanatic_x crib (anyone is welcome).

3. Happy International Happiness Day (20/03/2020)!

4. Looking for some coping strategies and self care tips please.

Thanks all xx

@Former-Member @Shaz51 @MDT @Dani1981 @Former-Member @Appleblossom

@Sophia1 @TAB @outlander @Former-Member @Former-Member @plasmo @Adge

@Zoe7 @Ant7 @Maggie @Peacefulsky @Former-Member @Faith-and-Hope

@Snowie @Mazarita @Valentine @Jupiter @Sans911 @Bunniekins

@Scarecrowe @CheerBear @Scoo @TheVorticon @Former-Member

@eth @Eden1919 @Former-Member @Former-Member @Former-Member @Former-Member

@Bill16 @NNY @DesertRat @Meowmy @WriterMelb @Scribbles @Wenna

@Bookworm @sherpa09 @Former-Member @theposterboy @BlueBay @Former-Member

@jamesle2015 @Former-Member @Former-Member

24 replies

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In response to: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

Sorry everyone it just seemed like I did something wrong. @WriterMelb @Former-Member @BlueBay @Bunniekins @Former-Member and others who replied

In response to: Re: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

Hi @Former-Member

There was nothing wrong with your question, this appeared to be a reminder for everyone I think. You have asked a question that a lot of people responded to positively which is fantastic so please let me encourage you to keep up the great posts.

Sylvester

SANE Moderator

In response to: Re: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

No @Former-Member they were talking about me. My post was removed and I had to edit it because it seems SANE doesn't agree with my directness and honesty, as per usual. Yes, it is my experience, however it is a far more common one than apparently SANE is willing to accept, instead covering up for services is more important. I am honest only because I believe we all deserve to know what really goes on so we can make properly informed decisions about our mental healthcare. Clearly that is not appreciated by the mods, and I will refrain from providing advice in the future because of it.

By the way, I received no notification that the post needed editing and just came this morning to see it gone, which was rather disappointing because it took me hours to type it because the site isn't mobile friendly. I had to check my email for my account, which I don't do often.

In response to: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

Thanks for supporting each other in this discussion about the complexities of Triage responses. I would like to reiterate the concerns raised by @Former-Member please follow these guidelines - thanks.

Sylvester

SANE Moderator

In response to: Re: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

I'm not sure what you're talking about @Former-Member , I've never seen you on these forums let alone on my posts until now?

@Former-Member @Sylvester what have I done wrong?

In response to: Re: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

I meant the mods were talking about my first reply to the topic, that is what was "wrong", not you or your topic. I'm sorry if you only wanted replies from members you usually engage with, I replied because I have knowledge and experience and if you only wanted to hear from people you engage with regularly, it would have been wise to say so. Sorry my honesty has brought negative attention to your post.

In response to: Re: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

It's fine, I didn't mean anything rude, I was just confused @Former-Member

In response to: Re: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

Understood @Former-Member

In response to: Re: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

Hello @Former-Member @Former-Member @WriterMelb and @Sylvester @Former-Member

Thank you first and foremost @Former-Member for bringing up a subject that needs to be discussed openly and in many areas improved.

I believe that the responses made by @Former-Member and @WriterMelb were relevant..truthful..and not disrespectful...perhaps more despairing of a system that is not working...

I am totally confused about who wrote what and which bit was removed.

Regardless...this is a vital subject that I have not come across anywhere on these forums to date. This of course does not mean that it has not been discussed before.

Due to the nature of research on any subject ...it is within a range of selections re wording..

Mental triages vary from state to state as well as from region to region...

no different to mentality within any area where there is service to the public..

I personally have not been exposed to the experience however my family member has (referred to as family member for privacy reasons out of respect for my family member)_

I have however had to deal with the trauma of achieving to have a triage attend...

This is written from the aspect of a concerned family member who is basically put through the third degree regardless of the fact that they are so stressed and extremely concerned for their family member..

This needs to be written and heard..

Anyone having to suddenly find themselves in this situation is so extremely traumatic in the first place on all sides of carer and person being cared for or person in need of help at that time as deemed by a caring concerned associate..

From my experience the level of seriousness,,,response and acceptance by someone from the triage team varies from state to state..

I have spoken to several in different states due to my family member's situation...

In the state that he was living in, where I still am the service was appalling and took many many calls.

Therefore I believe that dependent on who actually makes the call, in some states, makes a difference..

We (parents of person in need) were told the person had to be either threatening someone's life or threatening to take their own...

Hmmm

Yes I know that the population is large....however...I seriously struggle with the above.,..

Then of course following through if the person is assessed by a triage team , usually accompanied by police, as remember they have to be in danger of threatening their own life or as well as others...

they are handcuffed and taken off to the local psychiatric ward of the public hospital..

I will not go into what occurs after as I know this post if not already, will be removed if I continue..

There are also triage teams in other states who are clearly in the right jobs...they care and genuinely show concern for the patient...they will talk to concerned family members within the privacy laws...at least there is something there for the carers and family members...

@Former-Member @WriterMelb @Former-Member

Please do not stop writing about this subject...

For the very fact that if nothing is stated about such situations how can there be change...

we are in a time where "mental health" which I abhor the title of but is needed to be said to fit into the bucket of money funded; is supposedly and most hopefully listening to those of us who have actual experience with these triages...not just guidelines ..

no offence moderators...

allow us to have a voice...

amend our posts if need be...

we mean no menace..

we want to be heard..

we want to bring about change...

we want to help people who are already suffering and then treated as second hand citizens.

it won't be the first time that my post has been withdrawn

I am open to that...

I am not disrespecting sane...

I have the greatest respect for sane knowing how and why it was started..

I want to continue on speaking up in areas where people are frightened to or are silenced..

so allow us to discuss this vital subject which affects so many many people over the whole of this country..

who will support me in this?

In response to: Re: How do triages work please?

Re: How do triages work please?

Hi @Sophia1 , thanks for the reply but it doesn't matter, not like the triage will ever help me although my Psych reckons they should but hah, good luck with that. He's the only professional who helps and who cares.

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