Last night’s Four Corners episode, Emergency, shone a light on the urgent need for reform of the mental health system in NSW. 

The deterioration of community mental health services has occurred over the past 20 years. The program highlighted a system failing both the professionals working within it and the community members who rely on it during their most vulnerable moments. 

Emergency Departments (EDs) are ill-equipped to manage patients requiring psychiatric admission. This has led to distressing situations where high-risk patients, frustrated by long wait times, have become agitated or left hospital settings altogether - further compounding the mental health crisis in NSW. 

Under-investment and the pressure of seeing patients receive inadequate care for decades has led to acute moral distress for public psychiatrists, who have worked tirelessly to provide quality of care to those who desperately need it.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) acknowledges the complexity of the challenges at hand and recognises there are no quick fixes.

“As a professional body, our role is to support our members to provide safe, evidence-based and patient- centred care,” Dr Astha Tomar, President of the RANZCP said.

“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of our trainees and specialists. The quality of training and maintenance of accreditation standards is of utmost priority to us.

“We have advocated for the government to work with us so we can assist in the prioritisation and implementation of investment in mental health care.

“This action and investment will lead to transformative impacts on the lives of so many in our community and their families, both now and for future generations. Impacts that will also reduce the pressure on acute hospital-based services and prevent unnecessary ED presentations,” Dr Tomar concluded.

ENQUIRIES: For more information, or to arrange an interview call Dishi Gahlowt on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org.

In Australia: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

In New Zealand: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline NZ on 0800 543 354 or www.lifeline.org.nz or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 or www.lifeline.org.nz/suicide- prevention.