Sunshine Coast autistic 11-year-old boy turned away from hospital after suicide attempts

A Queensland mother claims that as her 11-year-old autistic son screamed he would try to take his own life, again, hospital staff sent the family home from a major Sunshine Coast facility. WARNING: Distressing content

A Sunshine Coast family has travelled to Brisbane in a desperate attempt to get help for their son who tried to die by suicide twice.

A Queensland mum claims a major hospital turned away her 11-year-old autistic son after he tried to die by suicide, with the boy attempting again only hours after leaving the health facility.

The mother, who this publication has chosen not to name to protect her child’s identity, said that within six hours of the family returning home, her son tried to die by suicide again.

“The system is completely broken,” the Sunshine Coast mother said.

“It’s just so incredibly frustrating.

“What does he have to do to get help?”

A Sunshine Coast mum is pleading for change after her son tried to take his own life twice in a week. Picture: File

Her high needs son attempted to take his own life on Tuesday, January 28.

He was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital where he stayed overnight.

Despite “putting up the fight of her life” to stay in care they were told to go home the next day by Queensland Health staff because there was no bed for him.

She said the boy was screaming he would take his own life.

On Wednesday, January 29, just after 2.30pm, he attempted suicide again.

His mother found him and saved him before it was too late.

She said it was a much closer call than the first time.

Back to Sunshine Coast University Hospital they went, where he was taken in for two nights before being sent home again.

His mother claimed medical staff were not listening to her and talking down to her, when she was already vulnerable and emotionally exhausted.

“This is what you call a failed release in the first place,” she said.

“I kept pushing for a bed. The second time I wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“But again they just wanted to send us home.”

The mother said there should be more help and there was a lack of facilities for suicidal children.

“The system is completely broken,” she said.

The mother said her son had struggled with autism, and subsequently his mental health, since he was young.

“I tried to get him diagnosed when he was two but again they wouldn’t listen to me and he wasn’t (diagnosed) until he was seven,” she said.

“There’s a lot of autistic kids who need help. I’m not alone.”

The 11-year-old boy is now at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, in the mental health ward for those aged under 13 years old, and has been there since February 1.

“I’m in the fight of my life here. I am sticking to my guns. He needs help,” his mother said.

“Currently it’s just keeping him contained so he doesn’t hurt himself. Then they will assess him and it goes from there.

“I’m not leaving though. Staff will have to call police if they want us to leave while he’s still threatening to kill himself.”

The claims were put forward to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, along with questions about the hospital’s protocol regarding when a child attempts self-harm.

A Sunshine Coast Health spokeswoman declined to comment on the case despite the serious nature of the claims.

“Sunshine Coast Health can’t provide specific details about individual care, but when someone comes to our emergency department with mental health concerns, they are supported by our team of clinicians, including those with special training in mental health assessments,” she said.

“Our hospitals work as a network, with patients accessing specialist care from other facilities within Queensland where needed.

“For young people under 13, specialised mental health care is provided by the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

“We listen to feedback and encourage this family to contact us and give us feedback directly, so we can make sure our services are the best they can be.”

Queensland Health and Queensland Children’s Hospital have been contacted for comment regarding the claims and their protocols too.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast autistic 11-year-old boy turned away from hospital after suicide attempts