Elinor

Elinor, in her mid-40s, has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. She told the Royal Commission she disputes the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, for which she is being treated with psychotropic medications. She is required to take the medication under a Community Treatment Order (CTO), which her local mental health service applied for.

Elinor said that because of the misdiagnosis, she has experienced ‘some difficulties in the system already’. But she can’t afford to pay for another diagnosis.

‘I recently went to a private psychiatrist and they were going to charge me $550 an hour. But I believe I have autism and ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder], so I don't agree with the diagnosis that I’ve been under with the community treatment.’

Without medication for autism or ADHD, Elinor finds that sometimes her life ‘gets really challenging’. When that happens, she checks herself into the mental health care ward at the hospital.

‘Sometimes it's my family saying, “We really need you to go to into care,” but it's mostly my decision.’

Elinor doesn’t want to take the medications she been prescribed, which make her feel very unwell.

‘I’ve been vomiting in the last week … and I’ve been very nauseous, and I’ve got really bad exposure to the medication, so I’m very drowsy and I usually sleep for about three hours a day on top of sleeping 12 hours from night. And I don't feel like I’m my usual self.’

Because of the nausea and because she can’t manage without afternoon naps, it’s hard for Elinor to get a job. Her level of activity is much reduced.

‘I used to read, but things that I used to have enjoyment with I no longer do. I don't enjoy reading. I don't enjoy walking because it makes me feel too over-tired, so I usually just do a little walk and I catch up with my mum and dad or catch up with a friend and that’s all I do.’

Elinor had a job working for a local council. She told her managers she had concerns about using a particular piece of equipment because of her drowsiness. She thought it was a safety issue they should be aware of. But they asked her to send a screenshot image of the medication she was taking.

‘And then they had a meeting and they just stood me down … They said, “We don't need you to come back on Monday.”’

Elinor believes she was discriminated against because of her medical history. Her employer made no effort to find other more suitable work for her.

‘If you look at the law, that’s unfair dismissal I’m sure,’ she said.

‘They said to me, “You didn’t disclose it when you had your physical examination.” But … I completed the medical examination just fine and there was no question saying “Are you on any medication?” … It just made me feel like a bad person because, you know, being on the medication, yeah, it means you can’t be employable, which is not true.’

The medication affects her wellbeing, she said. She wishes she had a choice about whether or not to take it, but she has to comply with the CTO.

‘If you don't comply with your medications they can put you into hospital.’

Elinor feels like no-one she sees in the mental healthcare system listens to her.

‘They’re very much about “We’re going to do this for you, we think this will be good for you,”’ she said.

‘I feel like they treat me like a baby and … having this community treatment order, this is another step in that process and they just want to, you know, keep me medicated … They don't talk to me as an adult and they don't want to hear me and what I have to say.’