It's Mental Health Awareness but what does that mean??
My daughter has been desperately unwell with depression for the last 5 months. We've been to doctors, rang helplines etc but, really, where is the actual help? It just seems to be lip service.
After waiting 4 weeks we finally managed to get an appt with a psych at a clinic that deals only with depression and anxiety, which is ideal, however after talking with the psychiatrist we were told my daughter couldn't be admitted because she doesn't have private health. She used to be on our policy however at a certain age they are taken off automatically. I rang the health fund (whom we've been with for years) and asked if we could join her up as an individual and if they could possibly waive the 2 month waiting period. The answer was NO.
I asked the psych if we could pay ourselves - again NO, my daughter had to have private insurance. I don't blame the psych, it's the policy of the clinic however what are we supposed to do?
My daughter was sent home. To a house on her own, as she won't come back with me. She doesn't eat, she doesn't sleep, can't work, cries all the time and is desperately depressed.
A normal hospital doesn't cater to specific mental health issues such as depression and she won't go to one of them. She said it would be too traumatic.
So here we are mental health week with lots of talk and conferences and breakfasts and VIP speeches but what's it all for ??
Nothing that I can see
