The Border Watch: February 26, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

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Hospital – not jail A magistrate says a defendant with mental health issues should be in

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THE state’s mental health system was criticised in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court this week. A defence lawyer claimed his client was prematurely released from psychiatric care, which led to her threatening her ex-husband with a knife. The woman was refused bail and was remanded in custody under the Mental Health Act. The court heard she has a history of paranoid schizophrenia and was recently released from Glenside Hospital, where she has since been readmitted. Appearing for the prosecution, Brevet Sergeant Caroline Batten said the defendant had visited her ex-husband on Sunday out of a strong desire to see more of their two children, of whom he has custody. After leaving the property she was seen crouching behind one of the victim’s car tyres with a knife. She appeared to have slashed a tyre, causing an estimated $100 damage. “The victim said he ran outside and grabbed her hands trying to pull the knife away,” Bvt Sgt Batten said. “A struggle ensued and he said he could feel her trying to push the knife toward his body. “The victim was fearful for his own safety and yelled to the children to call the police.” The man applied for a restraining order against the defendant, saying in

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pMount Gambier Magistrates Court heard a defendant’s release from Glenside was premature and was an administrative decision of the hospital.

More Glenside beds needed BY ANELIA BLACKIE Email: [email protected]

SHADOW Health Minister Vickie Chapman has warned that more people in country areas are going to end up in jail or dead if they do not get the mental health treatment they need at the Glenside Hospital in Adelaide. Ms Chapman was responding to news a Mount Gambier woman with mental health problems appeared in court after allegedly attacking her former husband with a knife. It was revealed in court the woman had been prematurely discharged from Glenside Hospital. Ms Chapman described the incident as tragic, but only the tip of the iceberg. She said the select committee of Glenside last

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year recommended an increase of beds when the redevelopment of the hospital was discussed in parliament, but the recommendation was ignored. “Glenside is the only South Australian mental hospital to serve patients outside Adelaide. The committee recommended they increase beds from 23 to 46 as the number of beds for rural and remote consumers are grossly inadequate,” Ms Chapman said. “But instead they accommodate the Film Corporation by building a sound studio. “This woman’s appearance in court is an example of exactly why we need more beds in Glenside.” Nurses at the Glenside Hospital yesterday walked off the job in protest against its proposed redevelopment.

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a letter to police he was “awful scared of what she would be willing to do to us”. The woman was arrested and conveyed to the Mount Gambier Hospital. Defence counsel Brett Cranswick said his client admitted the facts. “My client has been seeing her children once a fortnight on the weekend and has wanted to extend this,” he said. “The reason she approached the victim was to talk about it, however he refused to be flexible outside the court order. “My client was distraught at being denied the extension and grabbed the knife.” Mr Cranswick said the defendant’s release from Glenside was premature and was an administrative decision of the hospital. He said his client had not applied for a discharge and her psychiatric report would be given to the Mount Gambier Police Station. In adjourning the application for bail, Magistrate Bill Morris said the woman should be in hospital, not a jail. When court resumed the woman refused to appear. “This woman needs a proper diagnosis and medication before I can deal with her,” Mr Morris said. “If she comes back before me diagnosed and medicated with medical support we can start to focus on the charges.” Mr Morris thanked the woman’s family for attending court to support her and asked them to come back when she reappears on April 21.