Sheryl and Walt
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.
Walt’s wife, Sheryl, had complex post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression and anxiety.
‘She had a really bad childhood. Her parents separated and [Sheryl] was … sexually abused a couple of times as well,’ Walt told the Royal Commission.
A psychiatrist diagnosed Sheryl several years ago and prescribed medication.
‘[Sheryl] had some relapses … I think of numerous times I called triple-0, and the police or the ambulance were always coming and taking her to the hospital, never to the police station. They were treating her like a mentally ill person, giving her the help that she needed.’
A couple of years ago Sheryl took too much medication and collapsed.
‘The ambulance came, they took her, but for some reason they just let her walk out. Without even informing me. She was the kind of person that she didn't like going to hospitals so she checked herself out and they just let her walk out.’
Walt said Sheryl became aggressive after that and one day threatened him.
‘I thought I did the right thing, what my psychiatrist always advised me, "Always call triple-0. Never try and force the issue … Let the police do these kinds of things." So I did that.’
The police found Sheryl on the road and told Walt they’d called an ambulance to have her assessed and taken to hospital.
‘About 20 minutes later, [the police officer] comes back and told me that the ambulance came, assessed [Sheryl] and they decided not to take her [to the hospital].’
Instead, the police took her to the police station. Walt said he later learnt that when the ambulance arrived the police told the paramedics they weren’t needed.
‘She was interviewed [at the police station] alone – which I found out later that they shouldn't have – because she should have had an appropriate adult with her and support or taken to be assessed by a doctor before being interviewed.’
Sheryl told police she had a mental health condition, but the police kept questioning her. It was after midnight when they released her. They warned her not to go home or contact Walt.
‘She was homeless and that would have triggered [childhood] memories … That would have made it even worse.’
Later, Sheryl had to appear in court and a police lawyer asked Walt what outcome he wanted.
‘I told him the outcome I was looking for from the beginning. I want my wife to be taken to the hospital to be seen by a doctor there and let the doctor decide if she's right to come out or not. She needs help.’
Sheryl was granted bail on condition she take her medication, see a counsellor and not harm Walt.
Walt took Sheryl home, but she refused to go to hospital and he struggled to help her. One day, she took too much medication again and collapsed.
‘I saw her on the bathroom, on the floor, blue lips, no breathing.’
Walt called an ambulance, but paramedics couldn’t resuscitate her.
‘All this would have been prevented. All they had to do is take [Sheryl] to the hospital or if they couldn't do it, call the [crisis assessment] team. They would have come and assessed her and they would have taken her [to hospital] … They didn't do that. None of my wife's doctors have been contacted by police.’
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.