Arabic version: مراهقة تنتظر خمسة أيام للحصول على سرير للصحة النفسية في WA
A 17-year-old girl from Western Australia experienced a distressing five-day wait in the emergency department of Busselton Health Campus, awaiting placement in a mental health unit. The teen had previously attempted suicide twice before being admitted to the hospital, where psychiatric nurses classified her as high-risk. Despite this designation, she remained in limbo for 116 hours, prompting apologies from state health officials.
According to ABC News, the young girl was eventually transferred to Joondalup Mental Health Unit, located 220 kilometers away from Busselton. WA Country Health Service director Mark Holloway expressed his sincere apologies for the distress caused to the family, acknowledging that their experience was not isolated and that prolonged waits for mental health beds have become increasingly common in the region.
The situation has been worsened by a reduction in acute inpatient mental health beds at Bunbury Regional Hospital, which is the only acute mental health unit in the South West region. Since August 2025, the number of available beds has been cut from 23 to 11 due to redevelopment efforts at the hospital. Opposition health spokesperson Libby Mettam criticized the government for the inadequate mental health services, stating that the painful experience faced by the girl and her family was preventable.
WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat also issued an apology, labeling the delay in transfer as unacceptable. Her statement followed the recent opening of a 40-bed expansion at Fremantle Hospital’s mental health facility. Hammat assured that the government is working to enhance mental health support across the state, but opposition representatives argue that current measures are insufficient to meet the demand for mental health services in the region. Tara, the teen’s mother, expressed concern for other families who may be facing similar gaps in the mental health system, highlighting the urgent need for more available beds.
