Lisa Marie
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’re crucifying me. It’s criminal what they’re doing.’
Lisa Marie is being held involuntarily on a psychiatric ward.
‘I’ve been here for a year unnecessarily … It’s just ridiculous. Because I’ve got bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.’
For years, she ‘had nothing to do with’ mental health.
‘I was free as a bird. I didn’t have to tell them anything.’
But a new psychiatrist had her admitted under an involuntary treatment order.
‘I was brought in by the police and ambulances. They’re just making it difficult … Public guardian has taken over my financial and accommodation. They’ve got trust over me without my consent.’
Lisa Marie said she was ‘struggling’ to tell her story to the Royal Commission because doctors had drugged her up.
‘My speech is slurred because they gave me lorazepam, and I said I didn’t want it. They said I had to have it. Yes, they’ve got me on about eight tablets … I don’t like it. It’s horrible. I can’t talk properly. I can’t spit out the word.’
Lisa Marie said she is meant to have a say in her treatment under ‘an advance health directive’ but ‘they ignored it’. In the past year, she’s had electroconvulsive therapy almost a dozen times.
‘They just went ahead. They do that without my consent also,’ she said.
‘The psychiatrist here is ECT-happy. I’m scared of her. She uses it for depression. It’s barbaric and it’s wrong. It’s torture. She uses it for all patients.’
The therapy is affecting Lisa Marie’s wellbeing.
‘I’m just trying – racking my brain after being bombarded with ECT and trying to remember things.’
Currently, she’s in isolation on the acute mental health ward.
‘I was in a community care ward … They put me in the locked ward yesterday. I did nothing wrong. I’ve got no clothes … haven’t had a shower … The nurses are not looking after the patients. It’s very sad.’
She hopes to get off the treatment order and move in with friends.
‘I want to get myself rehabbed … But they seem to be headstrong on putting me in here. I just want to live my life. I had everything planned. Everything was working fine.’
She described the treatment order as a prison sentence.
‘I’ve got no leave. I’ve got no nothing. Can’t go out to socialise. Can’t do anything. They basically put a stop to the whole lot.’
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.