Page 10 - GBGH Foundation - Mental Health Case For Support
P. 10
YO U
YOU can change this picture:
The situation: Ben, a 45-year-old father of four comes into our Emergency Department with
suicidal thoughts, overwhelmed with anxiety and depression after the recent death of his
mother and an impending job loss. He is in active crisis and begging for help.
This is a picture of what happens today:
Our hospital doesn’t have mental health services.
Ben would be triaged, seen by a physician, a crisis worker if available, and
wait while blood work is done, while we begin the long process of trying to
transfer him to a hospital with an appropriate bed.
Ben will be placed in our safe room if not already occupied, which it frequently
is. Ben will not be seen by a psychiatrist or receive any mental health treatment
until he goes to another hospital that has mental health beds, possibly away from
his family and community. Ben is feeling more and more hopeless and his suicidal
thoughts are increasing in the absence of treatment.
Ben will most likely wait over three days, with no mental health treatment
before being transferred to another hospital.
WE SEE
WE SEE our patients struggling, and know our patients deserve so much more.
10 • MENTAL HEALTH CASE FOR SUPPORT
