Desperate mum calls for help as daughter falls through youth mental health cracks

The Diphoorn family is living in hell as part of the growing number of Queensland families forced to care for a teenager with high mental health needs — and no relief is on offer. WARNING: Graphic

WARNING: Graphic

Elaine Diphoorn is a mum in crisis. She is covered in cuts and bruises, her house is in tatters and she worries every minute of every day that someone in her chaotic household will end up in a body bag.

Ms Diphoorn cares for her 15-year-old daughter Bella who lives with acute mental health needs and several times each week their Logan home turns into a war zone with a screaming Bella violently lashing out and slamming holes in walls and doors.

A chilling video of one of Bella’s escalations was provided to the Sunday Mail by the family and highlights the shockingingly dangerous situation that leaves her 51 year old mum injured and broken on the floor.

“I’ve called out so many times for Bella to be admitted to a long stay mental health facility that can help her but no one is listening. I was told if I can no longer cope then I should relinquish custody. But she’s my daughter, I love her. None of this is her fault. And if I gave her up to the state she could end up in a motel with round the clock security and zombified with meds,” the desperate mum said.

Mum Elaine Diphoorn has called for Bella to be admitted in a long stay mental health facility to no avail. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Bella is aware that her mum is being told she should give up custody.

In the video she says: “Everyone tells you go give me up but I don’t want that.”

Mental health professionals are aware of the dangerous shortage of inpatient care for adolescents like Bella with acute conditions and are crying out for a ramping up of services in this forgotten area.

Bella herself pleas for help. She writes heartbreaking letters wishing for an end to it all — saying everyone would be better off is she was gone.

“I’m trying to be happy but I’m never happy” she writes.

The teen has attempted to take her own life more than 40 times in the last seven months alone.

Two or three times a week the local police are called to the home, either by a family member or a neighbour. Ms Diphoorn said the officers often stay a couple of hours until Bella calms and is no longer a danger to herself, her family or the property.

The family home is a shell. Bella has kicked in walls and doors and wrecks everything in her path as she desperately hunts down medications.

Mum and dad are separated but Bella’s dad lives in the home to help care for his daughter.

Bella was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Generalised Anxiety Disorder at age seven. She was expelled from school in Grade 2.

Footage captures the moment Bella has an escalation which left Elaine injured. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The Diphoorns is just one of many Queensland families buckling under the strain of caring for children with acute mental health problems in their own homes.

As they suffer a desperate appeal from doctors for more youth psychiatric beds sits with the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into Mental Health Services.

Mental health problems are the main source of burden of disease for people aged 12‒25. In 2020/21 suicide was the leading cause of death in 15 to 17 year olds.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Queensland Branch in their submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Mental Health Services in Queensland has asked for the provision of 500 new public acute and subacute psychiatric beds as well as 250 bed refurbishments, including acute beds and child and adolescent beds. The submission states too many young people are turned away from services.

“We are hoping to see a new acute adolescent unit set up,” Dr Brett Emmerson from RANZCP said.

David O’Toole chief executive of Kyabra a not for profit community organisation, which offers support to the Diphoorn family in the home, told The Sunday Mail that there are problems in the area of children who have high support needs.

Cuts left on Elaine’s arms after an escalation.

“Over the last 10 years we have seen a much needed increase in resources in the mental health sector but sadly there are still some very big gaps. We see families struggle as they try to cope within their own homes. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides a lot of help but there is definitely a shortage of in patient facilities,” he said.

The Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multiculural Affairs confirmed that if the custody of a child is relinquished in some circumstances emergency motel accommodation may be used temporarily.

Bella was admitted into the 12-bed treatment centre Jacaranda Place at Chermside in April last year following six months of lobbying from family and her support team.

“Her admission ended up being seven weeks as Bella fell gravely ill with pneumonia. She was supposed to be admitted last month but we were told she couldn’t gain access as she was too acute. They only take sub acute. I don’t understand that thinking, how can the experts just decide she is too hard?” mum Elaine said.

A spokesman for Children’s Health Queensland confirmed that Jacaranda Place provides extended care and intensive treatment for sub acute cases with stays of a couple of weeks up to six months.

The unit has cared for 60 young people in inpatient care since opening in April 2020.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, adolescent psychologist and a leading authority in teenage behaviour said that too many kids are bumped to the kerb due to a lack of services in the area of acute mental health care.

“We are seeing an impossible situation where there are not enough mental health professionals to cope with the explosion of cases. I get so many calls from parents at the end of their rope and I have to admit it has impact on my own mental health when I have nowhere I can send them,” he said.

Need mental health support? Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14

Originally published as Desperate mum calls for help as daughter falls through youth mental health cracks