Mental Health Backwater !

What was the outcome when a twenty-five year old man made a totally unprovoked attack on a woman who is a successful author innocently walking an Australian street ?   He was grabbed by the police and put before a court - who decided he was mentally ill and sent him to a psychiatric ward for evaluation

That destination - and often the repository for murderers who are deemed insane - is usually Cumberland hospital in Sydney's west.  This 1960's built institution is crumbling, overcrowded and is a danger to the nursing staff.  It is not unusual for staff to suffer personal attacks and recently ten of the nation's worst mentally ill were crammed into a six metre by six metre lounge and dining area. That is a certain recipe for disaster, and this hospital has no backup generator in case of a blackout.

Unfortunately mental health is not a fashionable aspect of medicine.   The media are quick to run a news story detailing amazing new drugs that offer hope to sufferers of formerly incurable diseases and the relentless march of science in surgery and procedures is the sort of "good news " that sells magazines and newspapers.

The mentally ill are something the public do not wish to dwell on.  In many cases they are relegated to a similar status to those who abuse drugs or alcohol.   Usually, when they appear before the courts because their affliction has drawn the attention of the police, we dismiss them as mere criminals.  We assume that they will be processed through a psychiatric ward somewhere, and probably end up in a prison.   We are only concerned when mental illness strikes family or friends.

Once again Cumberland hospital missed out in the recent allocation of health funds.   Nearby Westmead got nine million dollars for an upgrade, but Cumberland is still on the waiting list for urgently needed renovations - and replacement seems an impossible dream.  The conditions staff work under can be described as life threatening.

One of the nurses has spoken out after being attacked by that man who attacked that author in the street.  She suffered facial injuries, eye damage and was diagnosed with bleeding on the brain, and this was just the most recent injuries inflicted by out of control patients.  In past incidents she has received a broken nose - and her life nearly ended in a strangulation attempt.

Basically, Cumberland hospital is simply what used to be called a "lunatic asylum ".   That is no longer a fashionable term.   Our main psychiatric hospital was closed down years ago and now the mentally ill are treated in suburban day centres, but we still need a place of restraint for those who threaten to inflict unprovoked violence - and it seems that Cumberland hospital is a ghost from the past that the authorities choose to ignore.

There are no votes to be gained from a news report that funding has been allocated for repairs to a mental hospital.   That pales into insignificance beside the introduction of a new wonder machine that diagnoses the depths of the human body and costs millions to install.   There is a distinct perception in public minds that spending on psychiatric patients is somehow a waste of funds that should be diverted to mainstream medicine.

We are big on demanding workplace safety - and we have statutory authorities that police worksites to ensure that the rules are followed.    The conditions staff endure in Cumberland hospital would not be tolerated by either the unions or the public - if a trained nurse lost her life in a patient attack.  Unless improvements are urgently made - that is a distinct possibility !