Tragic details emerge of Jacinta Baum’s final days after release from Geelong psychiatric ward

A young woman whose family begged for her to be kept inside a Geelong psychiatric ward for her own safety was discharged and died just days later, her grieving sister says.

Sarah Baum with a photo of her sister, Jacinta, who died days after being discharged from a Geelong psychiatric unit. Picture: Josie Hayden

A young woman whose family begged for her to be kept inside a Geelong psychiatric ward for her own safety was discharged and died just days later, her grieving sister says.

Relatives of Jacinta Clare Baum, 33, have told of their “anguish and anger” at Barwon Health, who they allege “is complicit in her death” after she was found inside a car on an isolated road near Colac in March.

The family has shared some of Jacinta’s handwritten notes while she was a patient at the Swanston Centre Acute Psychiatric Admissions Unit amid revelations she had made an attempt on her life inside the facility.

The notes, written in the days before her release on March 12, include passages – seen by this masthead – detailing plans to take her own life.

Those words appear to have proved tragically prophetic seven days after she was sent home in a taxi from the ward.

The entrance to Swanston Centre in Geelong.

Jacinta’s sister, Sarah Baum, is now demanding answers from the state government and Barwon Health about the loss she claims was “totally preventable”.

“I told Barwon Health that if my sister kills herself I will hold them responsible,” she said.

“We were begging for help for months and it fell on deaf ears.”

Ms Baum described desperate pleas to the Swanston Centre on the day her sister died – March 19 – claiming the family “begged them to take her back” after she became psychotic.

She had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, although Ms Baum said Jacinta and her family were not convinced she had the latter condition.

“Mum called and they told her that it was not in their jurisdiction and to seek (mental health) support from (Barwon Health in Colac),” Ms Baum said.

Jacinta Baum, 33, died on March 19.

It is alleged Jacinta was then turned away at the Colac service after seeking help, with Ms Baum claiming she was told by a staff member to “grow up, go home and to use her strategies”.

Later that day, Jacinta called the police out of fear “the bikies were going to get her”.

Officers attended before she fled the family home in her own car.

Her body was found on the Timboon-Colac Rd in Irrewillipe a short time later.

“No one would hear our pleas that day,” Ms Baum said.

“There was literally no help available. My sister was, quite literally, tearing her own hair out.

“No one cared.

“I hold all services that failed my sister that day responsible.”

Jacinta Baum’s family is demanding answers over what they claim was inadequate care while a patient at Barwon Health.

Ms Baum, a Melbourne-based social worker in her final year of a counselling degree, claims the Geelong-based centre was told their discharge plan for the deceased was “not acceptable” due to her parents’ limited capacity “to keep Jacinta safe”.

Her father is in a wheelchair and her mother also suffers from poor mental health.

“There was zero support or care given,” she said.

“There was no care about the family or our capacity to keep Jacinta safe.”

She also slammed the treatment given to her while inside the ward, saying her sister was denied “human dignity” after she “attempted suicide under their care”.

It follows recent allegations about inadequate conditions inside the facility from family members of patients, with one taking her fight to the state and federal government.

Jacinta had written “goodbye notes” and was “trapped in the darkness of her mind with nothing to distract her” while on the ward, according to Ms Baum.

The Barwon Health run facility has come under criticism from family of patients. Photo: Brad Fleet.

“I know in a previous article it was referred to as a ‘glorified prison,’” Ms Baum said.

“I would argue that prisoners have it better.

“I have visited prisons as part of my job so I can say this with the experience of seeing both places first hand.”

A Coroners Court spokeswoman said the investigation into the death of Jacinta Baum was ongoing.

Barwon Health is co-operating fully with the coroner’s investigation.

“Any death of a family member is tragic, and our heartfelt thoughts are with the family at this difficult time,” a Barwon Health spokesman said.

“As this matter is before the coroner, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The health service is committed to providing the highest quality mental health care for people in the region, through inpatient wards and in the community through community mental health teams.

Health and Community Services Union state secretary, Paul Healy, said the Swanston Centre was one of many dilapidated mental health units across the state, labelling it “dark, tired looking” with “poor amenities” and a “poor line of sight” on patients.

Mental Health Victoria chief executive officer, Marcelle Mogg, said research was clear that people suffering from severe mental illness and vulnerability were “very sadly” at an increased risk of self harm.

Sarah Baum says her sister was a “beautiful soul” and will be sorely missed. Picture: Josie Hayden

“To that end, we call for integrated support for people experiencing mental vulnerability and also, importantly, for those caring for them,” she said.

A large funeral was held for Jacinta Baum last month.

She was described as a “beautiful woman”, “always smiling” and “so brave” by her many loved ones.

The former K-Hub employee was a “dearly cherished” member of the Colac community.

“I loved her more than she will ever know,” Ms Baum said.

“She did not deserve to live her final days the way she did.

“Her story deserves to be told.”

For support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Barwon Health mental health, drugs and alcohol triage on 1300 094 187

[e-mail]

Originally published as Tragic details emerge of Jacinta Baum’s final days after release from Geelong psychiatric ward