Four Corners: Aug 24

On Monday’s Four Corners Elise Worthington reports on violent crime and the mentally ill in her story, “Please Don’t Judge”.

“Please don’t judge my son…he didn’t get the help he needed and the help that he’d asked for and as a result of that myself and his girlfriend were stabbed.” Mother, NSW

Around Australia there are families carrying an immense burden of grief and loss. They live with the knowledge a loved one has committed a violent crime while suffering a severe mental health crisis.

“My brother was mentally unwell. He didn’t get the help that he needed when he needed it the most. It ended in tragedy, heartbreak, two families have been torn apart, one life lost.” Sister, Tasmania

For decades health workers and families have worked together to remove the stigma around mental illness, highlighting how those most in danger are the patients themselves. But the confronting reality is that every year some acutely unwell people kill or commit other acts of violence after failing to get the treatment they need.

“We begged for my son to be admitted to a mental health bed but was told that there was a bed block, and no beds available…two days later he killed my grandson.” Mother, NSW

On Monday Four Corners investigates how the mental health system is failing to protect the community and the patients themselves.

“I’m a mother of a schizophrenic boy…it’s just so hard and I begged for them to take him and I couldn’t get the help because the way things are.” Mother, WA

In this powerful investigation, families bravely go on camera to talk about their relatives and their experiences with the mental health system. What emerges is a disturbing picture of inadequate healthcare with devastating consequences.

“If somebody with a mental illness ends up before court, then that’s a failure, in my view…it’s because they’ve not been able to, or haven’t received the appropriate care and help that could have prevented that happening.” Lawyer, Tasmania

Lawyers and doctors say that too often people with extreme mental illness only get the treatment they need after they are detained or imprisoned.

“Our prisons are now our new asylums and we’ve got literally hundreds of people with severe mental illness in prison receiving, often, their first ever treatment.” Psychiatrist, NSW

Those left behind after an act of violence try to make sense of what has happened. What shines through from these deeply personal accounts is a story of love and forgiveness and a plea for action.

“My husband was killed by a man with severe mental health issues. I’m here because I’d like to see a change in mental health services to prevent this sort of tragedy from happening again.” Wife

Monday 24th August at 8.30pm.