Rules not easy for all
CONSISTENT media updates regarding coronavirus duly informs the general community of various preventive hygiene measures to undertake to hopefully protect their families’ physical health.
What “personal safety” health measures are in place to hopefully protect those with unseen mental health conditions?
The suggestion to practice “social distancing” has no impact upon the majority of mental health clients.
I’ve witnessed the ignorance of “social distancing” on many occasions while using our local Translink bus services.
I state my mental health concerns due to the fact that my personal perspective of longterm mental health “lived experience” places me in good stead to comment.
If vulnerable mental health clients are not listening to immediate family members regarding the dangers of possibly transmitting coronavirus, how are caseworkers going to persuade them otherwise?
Public calls to abide by “social distancing” rules are already being ignored as some go about their daily street wanderings oblivious to the dangers of COVID-19.
How will Queensland Health propose to implement and encourage those with mental health issues to practice “social distancing” while they’re intent on scrounging discarded cigarette butts from the gutter?
Not every mental health client has the capacity to understand the health dangers that COVID-19 presents when they’re out in public.
Should some mental health client become affected by COVID-19 and has to “self isolate” how will Queensland Health enforce the rule?
The only alternative to possibly enforce “self isolation” for mental health clients would be sending them to the secure mental health unit.
Our “most at risk” family members who continue to ignore COVID-19 health warnings pose a greater health threat to the general community by exposing people to possible transmission of the virus.
If mental health clients are not currently abiding by the “social distancing” rule how will Queensland Health hope to implement the suggested 14-day “self isolation” period? I do hope that the Queensland Health system and it’s various mental health professionals are well equipped mentally and overprepared physically for an influx of mental health clients to invade your secure space regardless of the compulsory “social distancing” rule.
CORALIE CASSADY, Kirwan.