Abbie
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.
‘From my story it’s clear that my life revolves around PTOs, police coming to my house and taking me to the hospital, being pinned down by police and hospital staff. It is a vicious cycle that continues to negatively affect me and cause me more trauma and fear.’
Abbie recounted to the Royal Commission numerous examples, over the course of 20 years or so, of mistreatment she has experienced at the hands of police and hospital staff as a person with a psychosocial disability.
These have typically involved police turning up at her house and taking her to the hospital – for reasons that have ranged from allegations of assault on medical staff, to hanging out washing in her underwear on her balcony on a hot day.
Over the years Abbie has been placed under several psychiatric treatment orders (PTOs) and medical staff have locked her up and restrained her on a number of occasions – sometimes for hours, sometimes for weeks.
‘They simply assumed because I have a psychosocial disability, they can treat me however they wish. I was treated in an inhumane manner which was neither reasonable nor necessary ... This was a traumatic experience for me which has affected me whenever I am in a hospital environment.’
Abbie says she has been ignored and considered ‘aggressive’ on several occasions when she has tried to explain to hospital staff that the information they hold on her is incorrect.
Abbie’s advocate heard from Abbie’s support coordinator that staff at the mental health unit of this hospital do not listen to anyone. The support coordinator says she has tried to speak to some of the nurses and doctors about Abbie’s condition, but they do not listen to her either.
‘This has led to hospital staff and the police restraining me at every point when I am in hospital,’ Abbie said. ‘I believe there are better ways to treat people with psychosocial disability. Being treated like a criminal due to the nature of my disability is completely unfair.’
Abbie says that at times she has had information about her medications and her own health withheld from her.
‘I feel that I am not included in anything that involves my own health. I may have a psychosocial disability, but I have a right to be included in anything that revolves around my life and my treatment … I am continuously left out and this makes me feel excluded and not having control over my life … '
‘I would like to live a full life where I do not have to feel discriminated against due to my disability. I would like to see the police and hospital staff as people I can trust when they are at my door and when I am in hospital, respectively.’
‘I would like to be treated in a humane way. I would also like to be able to make a complaint without fear of retribution. Lastly, I would like to be involved and included in understanding the decisions being made around my treatment.’
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.