Carer Experience for Mental Health Forensic Policy Review

(Extracted from email dated April 23, 2022 to MHCN from participants in the MHCN/JHFMHN Family
and Carer Mental Health Program “Carers of Forensic and Corrections Patients Network Meeting”).

Hello X & Y,
 
Firstly, hope you are both well and secondly thank you for your emails.
While I have not been able to be involved with the wonderful Carers of Forensic and Corrections
Patients Network, your regular emails alone give me a sense of security and support knowing that
you are just there for us if ever needed. So I thank you for your regular communications and keeping
us linked, even though we have not participated for some time.
 
I have been meaning to email and update you on developments with our son, X. On X February, 2022
X was allowed to come home to us after 6 and half years of being in the Correctional Services
system. So, we have had him for nearly 3 months transitioning back into our family,  the community
and learning to manage his schizophrenia. While I am happy to tell you that we are all going well,
unfortunately the system is very lacking and we can understand how many would fail and return
back inside due to the poor level of support.
 
I thought you may find our experiences helpful and I am happy for you to share with others if it
means systems can be improved and more support is available to vulnerable people in society.
Unfortunately I am unable to attend next Thursday due to my work commitments.
 
 On X January, 2022 the State Parole Authority agreed for X to be released on parole 2 weeks
later on X February, 2022 from Long Bay Forensic Hospital.
 The only reason we knew of his release was because we listened in on the proceedings.
 X was unable to call us as he was locked in due to a Covid outbreak in his wing.
 There were no communications from SPA or Corrective Services with us regarding his
release, even though we were phoning Long Bay Forensic Hospital daily to try and find out
details.
 The day before his pending release we were able to speak to his Parole Officer at South
Coast Correctional Facility who told us to be at the Long Bay Forensic Hospital the next day
by 8:00am and wait outside.
 On X February he was released alone out the gate about 10:30am with a TV in one hand and
a Release Form and $200 cash in the other looking dazed and dishevelled, finding it hard to
speak as he was so overwhelmed to be released and said he was just looking for our car in
the carpark.
 X was given no information about his mental illness nor what he should do except contact
Parole within 24 hours. They advised him that he was to contact the Mental Health Unit and
gave him the phone number which he rang numerous times and then just waited for
someone to respond.
 X was released with very infected toe nails so we made him an appointment to see our
family GP, who agreed even though X did not have a current Medicare card on release.
 Our family GP knew nothing about X’s medical history yet has managed him with his
monthly depot injection for his schizophrenia, treated his infected toe nails and skin
conditions which he came home with.
 Lack of current identification is problematic. X only had a birth certificate and the Release
Form as his Drivers Licence, Passport and Medicare cards had all expired long ago plus he
had no bank account.
 The required knowledge and experience to become a citizen again with identification is very
difficult for newly released people. X did not have a mobile phone nor could he get one
 without identification. He had not used a computer in a long time and did not know how and
where to access Government Depts plus he has an acute mental illness. The only reason X
could get all this organised was because he had his father and myself with him every step of
the way. No one was there to help him otherwise. A Transition Officer did come a few weeks
later and gave X a mobile phone to use.
 On release he also received a letter from NSW Revenue stating that he had 4 weeks to pay
$5000 for his victim’s compensation otherwise his money and possessions would be
confiscated; not that he had any. This caused him undue stress at this time and he thought
they may lock him up again. We have since organised a weekly payment for this.
 At his weekly Parole check-ins, they enquire as to how he is going and advise him of people
to ring such as Drug and Alcohol courses. When he rings they ask him some questions and
then say he does not fit the criteria. X has not been drug or alcohol tested since release. He
is not taking any drugs (except depot injection) or alcohol as he is always with us or at work
with his sister.
 The Mental Health Unit contact him each month to ensure he has had his depot injection.
Next week, 3 months after his release, he has an appointment to see someone? Hopefully
this is a psychiatrist who can assess how he is going.
 We have applied for a Low Income Health Card to make his depot injections cheaper but are
still waiting. Our GP automatically bulk bills him and has proven to be his most consistent
and supportive health professional.
 NDIS were suppose to provide support and he had a plan prior to his release but as yet they
have not returned one of our many phone calls or provided any support.
 He works at his sister’s business making recycled plastic homewares products. She picks him
up and brings him home as we are not sure about him getting a drivers licence at this stage
and he is nervous on public transport.
 He is starting to communicate more but his speech and movements are slow. He and his dad
are playing table tennis and chess which we think helps his reflexes and cognitive processing.
 He has his own Granny Flat which he calls his “bungalow” instead!
 I take X shopping each week to buy his food (breakfast and lunch) which he prepares but
then he has dinner each night with us.
 We watch movies together in the evenings and at X’s instigation we are watching all the Star
Wars movies from the beginning. He is amazed about streaming Tv and Spotify music on
demand. These new social aspects are new learning for him.
 
We know that X would find transition virtually impossible without our support and it makes us
wonder how those who do not have carers and family support even survive on their own. Carers
play such an important role in the lives of Forensic and Corrections Patients. We believe carers make
the difference between successful management and ultimate failure, yet carers don’t get support
either. We were told that many things would be put in place once X was released, however the
reality has been that nothing has been provided except by our family GP at our own organisation.
 
We hope this is helpful and in time we hope we can be more involved with the network and possible
help other carers.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Two Carers of a Forensic Patient
Hi X,
 
Thank you for your email and yes, you have our permission to forward our email to those who can
make systemic changes to help our most vulnerable and their carers.
 
Since our email on 23 April we have had a meeting with the X Mental Health Unit, who also said that
X’s transition from incarceration was less than satisfactory, however plans were discussed for future
management.
 
X is well and has been very consistent with his depot medication and consults with his GP. He
continues to improve; gaining confidence and independence. He turned 3_ on X of X so we took him
to Forster for a little holiday, as it was his first birthday celebration for 7 years. He had a lovely time,
although he got seasick when we went whale watching!!
 
Thank you for the anonymity, particularly while X is on parole.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Two Carers of a Forensic Patient