Another MH death in custody

[Dimity]

Several issues raised here.

Why were police called.

The nature of the police response.

The need for supports and services including people in public housing.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/19/nsw-police-mental-health-waterloo-ntwnfb?CMP=...

[Till23]

Apologies - Post deleted

[Cuddlebear]

@Dimity I call this murder. In Victoria if you call Ambulance for mental health they send police first. It’s completely and utterly inappropriate. Law must change. 

[EternalFlower]

i remember @Dimity the beautiful young person who died in SVMH a few years ago under their care while she said she was suicidal.

Where is the outrage?

I am disappointed too, at least in my state, by the lack of regulation of mental health services.

There needs to be swift and decisive action to give justice for these horrible losses so they never occur again and each person who goes to a hospital is safe.

[Dimity]

This is an advocacy thread @Till23 .

I found your response patronising.

So the post didn't titillate your desire for novelty? And everyone knows about the issue anyway? And you will single-handedly educate those who aren't aware?

I wasn't aware of this particular incident until reading the Guardian item. I was struck by the reporter making the effort to articulate the broader concerns. I thought it might be of interest to friends like @Appleblossom  who share my concerns about police interventions in mental health, and media representations of mental illness.

I feel I should abstain from posting in this  space again.  @tyme 

[Till23]

@Dimity thank you for your response and your feedback.

I was not saying that I needed novelty in these reports, I didn't think my post even inferred that, rather that I thought there had been an increase in the number of incidents of this type of thing, which if so, is terrible

I am terribly sorry, I have obviously deeply offended you.

I have deleted my post.

The intent was not to be patronising but to be empathetic about these issues, as I say because I thought they were suddenly increasing, which I thought would be of concern.

I was trying to point towards some other sources for the story - not saying that I was expecting everyone to have read it but just some extra information - not saying people should already know about it.

I thought the forums were collaborative and for sharing information - again my misunderstanding

I did no say I would single-handedly fix the problem, I don't think I even inferred that - but perhaps I lack understanding

I have known people with MH issues, who died after police interventions. Many people in my cultural community have died following police intervention.

As you say this is an advocacy thread. I was merely stating I was going to be attempting to do some advocacy actually about another issue regarding access to services for those with MH issues and media reporting.

However, I'm sorry any advocacy I might consider does not meet the bar for this thread, or perhaps this community. It would have been a group thing not me "single-handedly)

Sorry to have impacted you so badly.

I will not post about how I now feel about this as that is not relevant, or how my experiences now feel invalid

Please do not stop posting on this thread, because it is I, who am obviously a patronising waste of forums space

I will not post on the Advocacy thread again.

I will now deeply consider having my whole SANE account deleted as I may not ne a helpful member of forums community. I am now systematically deleting all my posts which have likely been off topic, not on brand, not helpful, not what people want to hear and possibly patronising and offensive.

Thanks for pointing out my lack of understanding of issues regarding MH

Goodbye - I hope you have success with your advocacy

[AuntGlow]

Hello lovely people! @Till23 @Dimity 

Thank you so much for talking about this, it's such an important and complex discussion... I can't imagine how painful this experience would be for those in a mental health crisis. I have never understood why police are the first responders and not someone mental-health related. It's a really flawed system, and your advocacy is so incredibly important and welcomed here - both of you. 💛

I understand that this is a sensitive topic, so I completely get why you're both feeling vulnerable. It's also so hard to convey tone and understand intention via message alone, so please remember that this can amplify misunderstanding. From an outside perspective, it seems like you both had the best intentions and that things have been misconstrued because you care so much and feel so deeply (which are beautiful traits to have). You are both wonderful people and I don't think anyone has to stop posting or leave the forums, you're both allowed to take up space here exactly as you are. 

What do you both need to feel supported and more comfortable again in this thread? Is there a way we can work through this? No pressure at all, I just want you to know that I can see an opportunity for reconciliation here.

Please let me know your thoughts. @Till23 @Dimity 🥰

[Appleblossom]

Thank you very much for sharing @Dimity 

Yes, I noticed it in the media, and I always worry, and have my own strong experiences as a carer in this matter, so have to manage personal triggering.

Advocacy is necessary, imho, for all in the mental health community. Death is never an acceptable outcome for these crisis situations. It is all to common, which actually raises the likelihood. It’s part of the reason I have consciously advocated anga too casual use of crisis lines, even in the forums. De-escalation skills are needed.

@Cuddlebear @EternalFlower @Dimity @AuntGlow 

[EternalFlower]

hi @Appleblossom - thank you for sharing your voice, always in a kind way.

Thank you @Dimity @AuntGlow and all commenters

There are many passionate and good people who care about safe mental health services and the people within them.

I personally find mental health patients to be some of the funniest and smartest people i've met - i hope the dignity and beauty of each individual who walks in to a hospital seeking help is always, always honoured. It is absolutely disgusing to read of the neglect of human life and care that occurs in some mental health facilities. 

No service is above scrutiny and government promises have been hollow and disappointing.

Some people say that all public hopsitals have the same exact standard of care but I've been to 3 and found stark differences. Some places are known amongst consumers to be very negligent and dismissive.

It's nuanced but i believe in centring and uplifting lived experience.

I remember sharing here my experience of going to an ED with a sensory room. Its 2025. Millions have been invested after the Royal Comission. 
There are money and resources and research. Some EDs have peer support, some don't. Some have hubs, some don't. Some have sensory rooms, some don't. Some have lounge spaces, some don't. Some EDs have no reception and you can't make a call. Some are super strict and take away every single thing you own, some don't.

Every single time a person walks into an ED in distress they should feel and be safe.

[Dimity]

Hello @AuntGlow 

Sorry to have troubled you. 

I'm not sure what to say. 

I will say correspondence is difficult when a party to it deletes and edits postings so there's no record or continuity in the discussion. I feel accountable for what I say, and I try to act in good faith even when - and perhaps especially when - I've said the wrong thing. 

I waited a day before replying to @Till23 's post as I'd been quite disturbed by it. I regret my directness and @Till23 's distress. I would like to have been able to reread their post to compare their explanation with my understanding of what they'd written, but that's no longer possible.