Francois
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.
‘They treat you like a criminal.’
Francois, in his 50s, is on an involuntary treatment order for schizophrenia. He told the Royal Commission he’s faced lots of abuse over three decades in the mental health system.
‘During the 90s especially. Dangerous drugs that go back to the 1920s that they used on me. And my forced injections, just criminal, using threats of violence against me. I mean, they will show up with the police at my place, and they will say, “You will either have your injection or 10 people will hold you down and give you the injection.” Things like that.’
Once, Francois said, mental health staff asked police to handcuff him while he was having his injection – ‘for some stupid reason. And of course, they’ve declined.’
In all that time, the psychiatric hospital never offered Francois the right to legal advocacy services or counselling.
He believes the earlier treatments had an adverse effect on his health.
‘I’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which is possibly from the antipsychotic medication I’ve used. Now I need dentists because of the injections that they used on me. So that caused me some tooth decay. I just feel like I was … one of the bad cases.’
Francois’s doctor referred him to a community health service for help.
‘And they declined to see me, for some unknown reason. They won’t tell me why. They said it would be unethical and negligent of them to tell me.’
He finds that ‘pretty poor’ and knows others who’ve had similar problems from the drugs.
‘The thing that’s getting me, I want to have dental implants but I can’t afford them on the pension. Mental health service, they should be liable for them.’
Francois tried to speak with his mental health team about the possibility of switching to other medications, but said they refused to see him.
He’s tried several other psychiatrists.
‘They all turned me down with some ridiculous excuse like, “We don’t see people with schizophrenia,” “We only see criminal cases,” “My books are closed.” Excuses like that are getting common.’
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.