Broken

[Faithnomore]

Hoping there is someone out there who may have experienced something similar to what I am currently going through and who may be able to point me in the right direction with regard to getting some help. I've attempted to contact all the usual suspects including homeless and mental health organisations, but it's a waste of time. I've even taken myself to 5 different hospitals across two states begining for help, but when you present to the emergency departments of hospitals as a homeless person the hospitals put you on the bottom of the priority list which means you you sit in the waiting room for 12 hours or more until you give up which is what the hospital is hoping you will do. To cut a very long story short, 18 months ago I was scammed out of my life savings and needed to be rescued from overseas by the embassy. I was a financially secure 59 year old man at the time who had just taken early retirement. The embassy paid for my flight back to Australia and dropped me at Sydney airport. I needed to hitchhike back to my home town of Port Macquarie because I didn't even have enough money to buy a train or bus ticket. After filling out police reports for the theft of my money I realised that I was never going to see my money again and had to come to terms with now being 60 years old, broke and homeless. The past 18 months have been hell and it has broken me mentally. The stress of it all has led to me becoming very ill, both mentally and physically. Finding medical assistance once you have homeless written on your medical file is almost impossible. Doctors don't take you seriously and hospitals think you are only after a free bed for the night. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated. Cheers

[Faithnomore]

Hi Beaser,

Thanks for checking in on me mate.

I think you got your wires crossed with your comment about me going back to Darwin. Wild horses couldn't drag me back up there buddy. It's also a very dangerous place to be homeless. Anyway, I've moved on from the Brisbane airport. Somebody told me to find a 24 hour supermarket and plant myself on a bench there for safety. Luckily for me there is a shopping centre close to the airport that is open 24/7. There are three other homeless people camped out here who filled me in on the rules if staying here. As long as you don't close your eyes and fall asleep they can't kick you out. Not an easy thing to do when you're so tired. As I was born in the England I contacted a few organisations in the UK over night to see if they can help me if I can find a way of getting on a flight. They were fantastic in the support they showed me. Completely different to Australia. They suggested I get on a flight to Scotland because the Scottish councils have a policy if looking after the homeless by putting them into B&B temp accommodation. One Scottish organisation even offered to pick me up from the airport and help me get the medical treatment I can't seem to get in Australia. It will mean I need to stay homeless here for another 6 weeks and save all my Centrelink payments to afford the flight, but it is a light at the end of the tunnel and a goal to aim for. Not sure if I can last another 6 weeks on the streets but I will give it a go. 

[randomxx]

Thx for the update op and that's fantastic that bit of light- sad and disgusting from the bs of the Australian side of it though. Makes me ashamed of my own country , which l have been for quite awhile now anyway but now it's worse.

Great to hear your at least getting some Centrelink too mate that is good news, at least we have that l suppose which is one big thing.

Didn't think much of Darwin eh ? Only if you feel like it of but would love to hear more about it there.

How would you feel about going over to Scotland ?

Hang in my friend.

rx

[Faithnomore]

Hi Beaser,

I'll get the nasty one out of the way first. Sorry, but I can't share my views on Darwin with you on this site. My text to you yesterday was edited by Beyond Blue because I said something negative about Darwin. It wasn't offensive in any way, but apparently it still broke the rules. I'll keep it polite and just say "Don't Go There" As for Scotland, I lived there for 18 months about 12 years back. Edinburgh is a nice city. I lived and worked abroad for 25 years in several countries before coming back to this place. Big regret coming back here but my new bride wanted to live here because she had young kids. She passed away from cancer just over 2 years ago which was a big part of the reason why I immigrated to Bali. It was both our dream to move there once we retired. 

[Patrizia]

Dear Faithnomore,

I have been romance scammed out of a large sum of money, but fortunately not at the expense of my home.  I felt incredibly stupid.  I told one psychiatrist, which was a mistake.

You have my heartfelt sympathy.

You are in a difficult situation.

You are still young.  ( I am 67!!). Take heart.

I have seen my local emergency dept many times with depression 

However, I was recently traumatised by a recent admission to a hospital psych ward on the city outskirts.  

It is ironic that when you are most unwell, most vulnerable and most needy ( ie homeless) you can get the biggest brush off.

I am glad you were able to get a flight home.

If I could wave a magic wand and provide you with accommodation I would.

For negative self thoughts you could get books on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

- on this website, online, local library or free library at a charity?  

My best thoughts