Being assessed as having a mental illness and subjected to compulsory treatment can be very difficult, lonely and distressing.
You:
- May lose many basic freedoms: where to live, the ability to move around, medication use, and how often you can see your family.
- May feel powerless and find it is hard to get others to take your views and preferences seriously and to make yourself heard and understood.
- Still have the right to be involved in all decisions about your assessment, treatment and recovery. However sometimes understanding and acting on those rights on your own can be hard.
- May find that your friends, family and your treating team may have views on what is best for you. Speaking up about what you feel you want and need to recover can be challenging if their views are different to your own.
The support of an advocate who is ‘on your side’ can assist you to speak up about your views, wishes, preferences and concerns.
Our staff are independent from hospitals and mental health services and can work with you so you can have your say.
“I really appreciate that IMHA took time out to meet my needs. Especially when in the beginning my situation seemed dire, IMHA assisted me in gaining perspective to assist myself to achieve this”
Examples of our advocacy
Read the following stories from people who have accessed our service.
Tricia's story
'Tricia' (not her real name) contacted us for help. She wanted to advocate on her own behalf about her preference to remain on oral medication rather than the proposed depot (this is a way of giving a medication via injection).
We firstly assisted her to self-advocate by providing information about the Principles of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act and her rights under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act.
Tricia and her advocate worked to prepare notes that she could use during her meeting with her psychiatrist.
The advocate also attended the meeting between Tricia and her psychiatrist.
Tricia discussed her preference for oral medication, and how this was her least restrictive treatment option. The psychiatrist agreed and Tricia's medication was changed.
Tricia told us: 'The experience felt very different with someone supporting me and being on my side.'
Mohamed's story
'Mohamed' (not his real name) had his first contact with the mental health system and was placed on an assessment order.
Mohamed's father contacted our phone line and spoke with one of our advocates, as well as supporting his son to speak with them.
Both Mohamed and his father were distressed as they didn't understand what was happening.
Our advocate provided information about Mohamed's rights, the sorts of orders that can be made under the Act, and how the mental health system works.
Mohamed was discharged the following day on a temporary treatment order.
He and his dad contacted us afterwards to say that our support had made 'a huge difference' at a very distressing and confusing time.
Contact us
You can contact us:
- by phone on 1300 947 820 between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm seven days a week
- through our online form
- by email at contact@imha.vic.gov.au.
We have First Nations advocates. Let us know if you would like to speak to a First Nation advocates.
If you are in hospital and can’t access a phone, ask a staff member or support person to get in touch with us on your behalf.
More information
Updated