Self-help tool

People have different things they need to feel safe. These can include:

• Physical safety
• Emotional safety
• Cultural safety
• Sexual safety
• Spiritual safety
• Financial safety

Think about why you feel unsafe. This can help if you are communicating your concerns to others, or trying to come up with solutions. Some common reasons people feel unsafe are:

• behaviour – someone else’s behaviour or how they are talking to you
• treatment – you are receiving compulsory mental health treatment, or that your treatment concerns are not being addressed
• environment – the environment feels unsafe or not a nice place to be in

Are there other reasons? You can write them down if that helps.

You have the right to liberty and security. For example, the mental health service can only keep you in a hospital against your will by following the law. To learn more about this, read what the law says about compulsory treatment orders.

You have the right to have your individual needs (including culture, language, communication, age, disability, religion, gender, sexuality or other matters) and characteristics (including Aboriginal culture and identity) respected. The law makes specific mention that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have their distinct culture and identity recognized and responded to.

The mental health service should provide you with an interpreter, or Aboriginal health worker if needed.

You have the right to be assessed and treated in the least restrictive way possible. For example, when making a decision about treatments, the psychiatrist must consider your views and preferences about the treatment and the reasons you hold those views. These reasons can be the impacts the medication have on your health, wellbeing and ability to work.

Speak to someone, such as a family member, nominated support person, friend or advocate. They may be able to support you to find solutions.

If you are in a mental health service, you can talk to a staff member about what you need in order to feel safe.

You can ask for an IMHA advocate to support you by calling 1300 947 820 between 9:30am - 4:30pm seven days a week.

There are services that might be able to help and give you options. Some examples are:

• The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission – the MHWC handles complaints about public mental health services
  • phone 1800 246 054
  • email help@mhwc.vic.gov.au
  • website https://www.mhwc.vic.gov.au/
     
• The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist – the Chief Psychiatrist provides clinical leadership to services, and they have written guidelines on safety in hospitals.
  • phone (03) 9096 7571
  • see the guidelines on their website for more information www.health.vic.gov.au/chief-psychiatrist  
     
• Victoria Legal Aid – you can call Legal Help on weekdays for free information about the law and how they can help you. VLA can also provide you with information and advice on your rights and compulsory treatment.
  • phone 1300 792 387
  • website https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
     
• Mental Health Legal Centre – the MHLC provide a free legal service to anyone who has experienced mental illness in Victoria, where their legal problem relates to their mental illness.
  • phone (03) 9629 4422 or 1800 555 887 free call from rural Victoria
  • website https://mhlc.org.au/
     
• Emergency Services – if you are in a crisis or immediate danger
  • phone 000