Member Stories
“Violence is our biggest issue”
“We have a MICU (Mental Health Intensive Care Unit) with complex, high-risk cases. We have to have a minimum staffing level. Patients in the unit are acutely unwell, some are suicidal, and violence is a big issue. We also have a PECC (Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre) where patients are funnelled through ED for an assessment.
Violence is our biggest issue. The amount of violence and injuries that we’ve had recently, at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, has been huge. One of our PECC managers lost two of his teeth in an incident.
Management says we have to remember we are working in mental health, but I don’t come to work to get my head smacked in, or my foot stomped on to the point where my toenail was pushed down to my bone.
When we discussed the strike, all the staff wanted to walk out because of the safety issues at work.
But for the safety of staff members who would have to stay on the wards during a walkout, members discussed amongst themselves who would stay and who would go.
The people who were walking out were taking the financial burden as well.
Staff were very happy to take action. We just voted to wear the ratio button badges at work.”
— Michelle Birkett, Secretary, Waratah Mental Health Branch