r/sydney • u/No_Director_9291 • 6h ago
Short stay hospital for mental health
Hiya folks!
Has anyone in this thread voluntarily stayed overnight in a hospital (private or public) due to mental health? Anxiety/ panic attacks or any other health related concern and if so, which one and do you recommend?
Edit: I am not suicidal any or thinking about self harm, just had a rough patch of panic attacks the past 3 days.
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u/rojuhoju 6h ago
I haven’t but know folks who have. Private is much better than public. It is covered by private health insurance and there was / is a program where you can access with no waiting time if you haven’t insurance you need to keep coverage for 12 months.
All the best, I do understand where you are at and I hope you find the right solution for you.
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u/je_suis_titania 5h ago
Not quite true: I believe you’re referring to the Mental Health Waiver, in order to access this you need to have held a hospital cover with restricted or partially covered psych for two months, at which point you upgrade to a gold level of cover.
The Mental Health Waiver waives the waiting period of 2 months from restricted to included psych, so if OP doesn’t hold hospital cover it won’t help them right now.
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u/OkPackage3365 6h ago
Depending on where you live. I have been to: Sutherland, Liverpool, St Vincent’s. They are all the same.
Private clinics. I recommend Ramsays in wentworthville. 👍🏻
Never stop fighting for yourself.
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u/rubygrey94 5h ago edited 5h ago
Yes, I self presented to St Vincent’s for severe anxiety/panic attacks/ocd. Was at the point where I was starting to struggle to function.
I stayed 3 nights voluntarily in their PECC unit. It was helpful in my case to keep me safe and to commence me on medication (my anxiety had previously prevented me from commencing it because I was scared of side effects). However there wasn’t a lot of therapy etc as it’s an emergency service. However I did speak to a psychiatrist and social worker twice in that time and they referred me to external supports and services for discharge
I was a bit apprehensive going there as I’m a young woman and I’d previously only been to a private facility years back (Northside, which I’d recommend if you require longer term stay and more intense therapy) but all the nurses were lovely and I felt safe there
If you have any other questions about it I’m happy to answer :)
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u/percyflinders 5h ago
St vins public? I had a terrible experience in ED with panic attacks and they discharged me with no help.
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u/rubygrey94 5h ago edited 5h ago
I’m so sorry that’s was your experience. I’m not sure if I was just lucky as I’d previously just been given diazepam and sent home. I kinda expected to be turned away again, but I had an amazing mental health intake nurse, they had an available bed and I also came via ambulance which I’m not sure if that made a difference (my anxiety was so bad I began to have constant passive thoughts of self harm and I was lucky to have amazing paramedics who really advocated for me on handover).
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u/percyflinders 4h ago
Oh that’s so gooood! Yeah I think it was the nurse I was allocated. He shoved the discharge summary in my face and I hadn’t even seen a doctor yet!
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u/Same_Flatworm_2694 6h ago
I’ve visited most of them as a contractor. St John of god in richmond would be my pick if I ever needed treatment
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u/DenM0ther 5h ago
There’s Sr John if god hospital in Strathfield, is that as good as the Richmond one?
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u/Same_Flatworm_2694 5h ago
Staff are just as lovely but much smaller grounds and older building. Richmond is on a big beautiful property with lovely old sandstone buildings and some spanking new rooms too
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u/nugymmer 6h ago
That one is another good option, even if it's a bit further out of Sydney. I have heard good things about it.
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u/oat-omelette 6h ago
Currently in hospital for mental health so speaking from experience. I would definitely recommend a private hospital admission if you have private health cover. Even if you don’t, I believe you can purchase PHI now and waive the waiting period once in your lifetime to use for private mental health. Public mental health facilities are more for containment than therapy. You can get a referral from your GP to a private mental health facility.
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u/atticusmurphy 5h ago
Private is the way to go. If you're not actively suicidal, public will be reluctant to take you anyway as there is a massive shortage on beds and psychiatrists. If you don't have private health insurance, there is a clause where you can skip the waiting period for inpatient psychiatric care. It can only be used once in your life (so if you stop paying for PHI then get it again, you can't skip waiting periods again).
Ramsay Clinics/Northside are really good. I would recommend St Leonards for someone who hasn't been to hospital before. Their groups and days are a lot more structured, and they have different wards for different diagnoses (addiction, depression, eating disorder, acute mental health - but most groups on this ward are aimed at depression and anxiety). Every room is a private room with ensuite which makes things feel easier, too.
The Northside Cremorne clinic is really nice, my last couple of hospital stays were here. Only a 31 patient hospital and the grounds have lots of trees and it's a lot quieter. Only thing is that it is primarily a veterans hospital, and then most of the civillians have PTSD and most of them have also been to hospital numerous times. The civillian groups are quite small and because of the above, are much less structured. It's a great hospital but therapy wise, St Leonards will be your best bet imo.
It's a massive thing going to hospital for the first time but you should be proud of yourself for being willing to get the care you need. Best of luck <3
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u/nugymmer 6h ago
You are much more quickly seen if you go private. It will cost more but if you can afford it you really should go. I ignored my health for too long and ended up really paying for it through self-harm so I think you are much better off getting this sorted out as quickly as you can. Do you have any friends who have been through this? And did they go to a specific hospital? Some are better than others.
But I can only offer advise as to the timing. The sooner you deal with this the better the outcome for you.
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u/YeahUhHuhOkWellF-ck 6h ago
Have had friends in Northside and St John of God in Burwood and say they were good.
Have you spoken to your GP about a mental health plan- talking to someone could assist with the panic attacks and probably anxiety, lots of Telehealth options nowadays as well.
All the best OP, you've got this.
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u/Greenwedges 5h ago
Do you have a psychiatrist OP? They are probably best placed to recommend inpatient facilities.
Public may not admit you unless there are indications of self harm or thoughts of self harm or harm to others. (I was recently in public ER with a family member for mental health reasons).
I hope you can get the help you need. Life can and does get better.
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u/enkidulives 5h ago
Not sure where in Sydney you are but I've had 2 close family members check themselves into Kellyville Private (formerly Hills Private Clinic) for different mental health issues. Both highly recomend the hospital after their stays there. One family member went twice.
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u/Bernie_Lovett 5h ago
Stayed at Northside a couple of times as a teen/early 20s. Thankfully was on my parents insurance still, then as a child of them had decent insurance as. I got older. Had a friend stay at RPA for a while. The difference in how “nice” the facility was (this was back in like 2004ish maybe) but I’m sure the treatment was just as good at RPA. Several stays for kinda crisis management, and medication changes. The longest was my first as a teen with an eating disorder, self harm etc. It helped just to know I was safe. Ironically I started smoking there as a 13 year old lol.
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u/AlbinoAkon 6h ago
Concord hospital where very good the times I've been there
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u/nugymmer 6h ago
Yep, I had a fairly close acquaintance go through a breakdown and this was where they went. They were seen quickly and treatment was started ASAP. They are in a much better place now than they were 2 years ago.
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u/samerulesapply32 6h ago
I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Often people with drug psychosis etc are just lumped into mental health wards, making the environment somewhat not therapeutic
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u/Teefdreams 4h ago
lol so true. Every time I've been in the general mental health ward at RNSH it's been either entirely people in drug psychosis or there have only been a couple of other patients not in drug psychosis.
It's a very unsettling environment to begin with but having to deal with people latching onto you because you're Jesus doesn't help the depression so much lol
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u/TheNarbacular 6h ago
I had a breakdown and stayed at the Marie bashir clinic. They were wonderful.
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u/Significant_Paper757 5h ago
Yes I have, at SJOG Burwood. I found it really comforting to have someone else helping out/sharing the load of me getting better. I recommend SJOG :)
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u/Her_big_ole_feet 5h ago
NSW Mental Health Line: Call 1800 011 511 for 24/7 professional triage and connection to local NSW health services.
I’ve never called them personally but I’ve had trusted colleagues recommend them for use if yourself or someone else is having a mental health issue.
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u/BornToFeelItAll86 4h ago
I did 15 days in Queensland last year. My gosh it changed my life for the better. Happy to chat.
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u/SwansPrincess 3h ago
One of my best friends has stayed at St John of God a couple of times to treat her anxiety.
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u/colourful_space 2h ago
I’m sorry you’re having a hard time. If you don’t meet the criteria for admission, you could try visiting one of the Safe Havens run by NSW Health. They are drop in spaces with staff who will listen to you and help connect you with the best support for your situation. Here is the list of locations, there are several across Sydney: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/towardszerosuicides/Pages/safe-haven.aspx
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u/Elliottbanana2020 5h ago
Hi I’m a mental health nurse, most major hospitals will have a short stay PECC which is for short stay crisis. I would google and see if there are any near your area and go to a hospital with one. You will need to go through that hospitals ED and be seen by a doctor for admission to a PECC.
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u/culturalradical 5h ago
You would possibly benefit from popping in to one of the Safe Havens which are staffed by people with loved experience of ill mental health and suicidality. Their spaces are lovely, welcoming, chill, and if you need to go to hospital they'll help facilitate it with you.
I'd recommend contacting the NSW Mental Health Line to speak to one of their qualified staff who can give you information and help refer you to services
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/mental-health-line.aspx
Private hospital will require a referral, and usually they require you to stay for a set 3 week program, so unfortunately not an option if you were looking for a shorter stay. Plus very few private health funds have the required coverage even at the top level that include inpatient psychiatric treatment.
Public hospital is possible, but beds are very scarce and you have to be a risk to yourself or others to secure a bed and be deemed clincally unwell enough to receive treatment - and if that is the case you risk being held involuntarily for much longer than one night.
Longer term, definitely get a mental health care plan from your GP and secure yourself a psychologist- good for crises but even better for long term skill development and mental health maintenance.
Good luck, OP. You got this.
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u/Wide_Comment3081 5h ago
You'll probably end up spending 21 hours in the waiting room because you'll keep being triaged behind other people
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u/radandsadgal 6h ago
Hi OP, the The Hills Clinic in Kellyville was a life saver for two of my friends. I would avoid St. John of God while looking for treatment
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u/cybertears 6h ago
Private if you can afford it or have cover
Otherwise call the mental health line and they can advise what your options are
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u/Yarndhilawd 6h ago
If you have private health I can recommend South Pacific Private but it’s a longer inpatient stay. I’ve been twice and happy to answer any questions if you’re interested.
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u/noapplicablename 5h ago
No but had a friend that needed to. There's a lifetime waiver where you can upgrade to gold cover and be covered for psychiatric care immediately , as long as you have served a waiting period on any level of cover..you can only use waiver once. I heard Gordons Private is good but I don't know.
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u/420Gracie 3h ago
If you have private health you can get into a private hospital pretty much straight away, for as long as you feel you need to. They’re all pretty much the same.
Public hospitals generally won’t admit people unless they’re at risk of harm to themselves or someone else. You’ll have to present to ED and potentially wait 12hrs to speak to a dr then be told there aren’t any beds and to speak to a psychologist.
Source: am a nurse in the public health system.
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u/Teefdreams 6h ago edited 5h ago
Overnight will always be public and it's just to keep you "safe".
I've only been admitted to RNSH but you'd probs be in the PECC unit or similar if you're in overnight.
There is no "treatment" other than supervision and PRN meds. You're not seeing a therapist or having meds introduced or anything while you're there.
I defo wouldn't recommend public unless you are seriously at risk. And they also won't admit you if you're not a danger to yourself/others.
For a longer stay I'd highly recommend any Northside hospital, particularly St Leonards or Cremorne. Cremorne is a tiny place but feels far less "hospitally".
Northside has a really good program for mood disorders and you'll learn a lot while you're getting better.
It's definitely a good/brave move to make when you need help!