Vigo
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.
Vigo has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), complex trauma and mental health issues.
He told the Royal Commission that he was diagnosed as a teenager and, for most of his life, has had difficulty accessing appropriate mental health support and medication.
Vigo uses illegal drugs to self-medicate. As an adult, he has been ‘in and out’ of prison.
Following a recent release, Vigo ‘tried desperately to see a psychiatrist and obtain some kind of medication’.
Initially he tried to see a private psychiatrist because his experiences in the public health system have been unsatisfactory.
But the wait times were so long, Vigo had no choice but to access the public health system.
He said the psychiatrist on duty didn’t believe he had ADHD, telling him ‘you grow out of it’.
‘I begged for help and did not receive it,’ he said.
Instead Vigo ‘was dumped’ in a drug rehabilitation program.
But it didn’t help.
Vigo says these programs don’t provide the help or support he needs to treat his ADHD or complex trauma.
He continued to use drugs to self-medicate, eventually ending up back in prison.
In prison, Vigo asked for mental health support and medication.
They said he needed to be reassessed because his ADHD diagnosis wasn’t up-to-date.
Vigo’s family member arranged for him to see a private psychiatrist and the prison approved the appointment.
But on the day, at the appointed time, the prison informed the psychiatrist they were running late and needed to reschedule to a later time.
The psychiatrist had a full schedule and cancelled Vigo’s appointment.
Vigo has not been able to reschedule the appointment. A prison officer told him he would have to arrange the assessment when he got out.
‘Mental health concerns should be managed before people end up in prison. Instead, people end up in prison and are then dumped in rehab after prison or left to deal with the incompetence of our public system.’
Vigo wants to be properly supported to stay out of jail.
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.