Overwhelmed psychiatrists have to turn desperate patients away

Psychiatrists claim they are struggling to cope with spiralling demand and want a review into spending on mental health in Queensland.

Queensland’s mental health system is “on the brink of collapse” as overwhelmed and burnt-out psychiatrists are forced to turn desperate patients away.

The extraordinary warning by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists came as the organisation last night slammed the Palaszczuk Government for short-changing Queenslanders, with its spending on mental health the lowest per capita in Australia.

Queensland branch chair Professor Brett Emmerson called for an immediate review of the state of services by the Queensland Mental Health Commission, which has the standing powers of a royal commission.

“Despite the $46.5 million funding boost to support Queenslanders’ mental health, our mental health system is struggling to cope with spiralling demand,” Prof Emmerson said.

“Presentations to emergency departments have skyrocketed, highlighting a mental health system which is overwhelmed, publicly and privately.

‘Community mental health services cannot cope’, Professor Brett Emmerson says.

“Our psychiatrists are reporting tremendous burnout on the job, they are scared of making medical errors and report turning patients away or transferring them elsewhere.

“The problem is that patients have nowhere else to go.

“Many private psychiatrists have closed their books.

“Community mental health services cannot cope.”

He said with the rise in poor mental health caused by the Covid pandemic, now was the time for a clear and comprehensive strategy for reform so that every person could get access to the care they need.

“Given the recent Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health, the Victorian Government Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and the New Zealand Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, we have sufficient evidence and reforms that would be highly applicable to the situation in Queensland,” Prof Emmerson said.

He said Queensland could begin applying learnings from those inquiries right away ahead of a review of Queensland’s mental health system by the Queensland Mental Health Commission.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath. AAP Image/Dan Peled

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the government recognised growing demand for mental health services, both public and private, and had committed a further $106.4 million over four years to enhance community treatment services.

“My door is always open and I’ll continue to work with stakeholders, including RANZCP Queensland, to deliver enhanced care to some of our most vulnerable,” she said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates said the RANZCP’s condemnation exposed an “abhorrent failure” by the government.

“There is no choice here but to launch a full investigation into Queensland’s Mental Health System,” she said.

The broadside from the peak group responsible for training, educating and representing psychiatrists in Australia and New Zealand comes after months of complaints over the state’s overwhelmed health system, with a lack of beds causing an ambulance ramping crisis.