Acute lack of psychiatric first aid

A few stories emerged this week of people in acute need of psychiatric treatment being turned away by health professionals.

The family of a 47-year-old woman in desperate need of treatment for a variety of psychiatric disorders have voiced grave concerns after repeatedly being told that there is no help on offer.

They contacted several GPs, the emergency medical services and the psychiatric ward, but no help was offered, according to the family.

They then contacted Sinnisbati, a voluntary interest organisation for people suffering from mental illness. Sinnisbati advised them to go to the National Hospital’s casualty ward, assuring them that they would not be turned away there.

“But we were directed to the emergency medical services, which brought us back to square one,” says a family member.

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A man who suffers from bipolar disorder, PTSD and anxiety says he is not surprised to hear this story.

He says he has had periods when he desperately needed to be admitted to the psychiatric ward, and he was turned away every time he contacted the ward.

Health minister Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen says he was shocked when he heard these stories.

“This is unacceptable. I will make it a top priority to ensure that people who need acute treatment for mental health issues receive the help they need,” he says.

“I will do everything in my power to secure funding for an emergency psychiatric clinic as soon as possible.”

Read the Faroese versions of this article here and here.

More Faroese News in English.