Page 10 - GBGH Foundation - Mental Health Case For Support
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YOU can change
this picture:
The situation: Ben, a 45-year-old father of four comes into our ER 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, 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.
Our patients deserve so much more.
10 • MENTAL HEALTH CASE FOR SUPPORT
