Barrett
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Barrett is a First Nations man in his early 30s. He told the Royal Commission about his experiences as an adult with psychosocial disability, post-traumatic stress disorder, intergenerational trauma, anxiety and depression.
‘People with psychosocial disabilities have no rights – they are rarely involved in decisions that impact them. I have been involved in this system for seven years and been hospitalised countless times against my will. People working in hospitals with mental health patients are cruel and take advantage of people with disabilities. The less you can stand up for yourself the more they exploit you …
‘Drugs are misused to keep us “easy to manage” not because the medication will help.
‘There is nobody to report to … you are treated like all of your thoughts views and beliefs are invalid because you are unwell – but it is often only very select thoughts and views that are impacted. Police won’t take [you] seriously. Hospital management won’t listen because it’s their staff.’
Barrett would like to see better education around mental health and psychosocial disability to reduce the stigma.
‘Look at countries that have favourable outcomes for people with disabilities, all disabilities, and learn from the evidence,’ he said. ‘Use social models to support people with psychosocial disabilities.’
Barrett hopes that people who knowingly exploit people with disability will be brought to justice. And ‘for those who mean well but don’t know how to do things better’, his hope is that ‘they are educated and are part of the change process’.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.