RPA hospital closes HIV psychiatry clinic with 200 patients after staff resignations

Exclusive: Former staff tell Guardian Australia some HIV patients have since required acute mental health care, as hospital also loses specialist pain and eating disorder support staff

The resignation of psychiatrists from Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital has led to the closure of a HIV psychiatry clinic with 200 patients, as well as a loss of specialist psychiatrist services for patients in the pain clinic and the most unwell eating disorder patients.

#NSW #NSWPol #health #Australia #psychology #psychiatry #MentalHealth #pain #ChronicPain #EatingDisorder

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/02/rpa-hospital-closes-hiv-psychiatry-clinic-with-200-patients-after-staff-resignations?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Ello sweet and lovely Friendos and #NeuroSpicy friends

This afternoon I have a MH appointment for/about my binge eating disorder.
Last time was 3 months ago, and I wish this one would be threw months away still.

I'm *not* looking forward to it, as my last appointment, I struggled. Hard.

They want me to start a personal treatment for the disorder. I want that. I fight with it a lot, I want to know how to deal with it better.

But.... I told them last time about my recent developments, my struggles involving time, energy and money.

I told them I was going to move, which costs a lot of money and energy, and also time.
They said they understood.
I told them I could not commit to a treatment yet due to this. I want to do it right, have the spoons for it, and be able to afford the drives there (and back).
They said they understood.

And then came the "buts".
But this...
But that...
Maybe if...

I felt like I wasn't taken seriously. I felt like my current situation didn't care as it wasn't in their interests...

They gave me my adhd meds prescription and a new appointment. Today. And I still have to move. I still have to get into a new routine and new life. The situation hasn't changed yet. I'm still too low on spoons, too low on funds and not really motivated to commit because of all that's happening.

I just can't commit yet. And I'm afraid they'll push me into it now, as "I've been given some time already". I just feel that will be one of their arguments... And I don't have the energy to discuss it again, to explain how hard this all is for me, again...

So I'm really dreading the appointment...

Need to drive 45 minutes for a 30 minute appointment, then drive back... I asked for an early time for the appointment, they set it at 14:00. Which could be early for them? But for me, it means *before* the afternoon. Ugh... More stress because I have less energy in the afternoon...

Yeah, yay for mental (and physical) health issues. At least life won't be too boring?

In June 2017, I was obese. In September 2019 I was obese again... I've lost weight in between. I felt good about it.
And then my hex dumped me, mistreated me, turned people against me... It was hell. I tried to OD...

I'm overweight now, just lost some kilo's and "lost" my obesity. I still have a long way to go and I've got no idea if I may reach my goal ever... But I'm trying.

Wow! Good wow? No, Courageous WOW. Please read and support if you can.

I had an #eatingdisorder
And I haven’t talked about it enough. #JOJOFROMJERZ
JUL 30, 2023

https://jojofromjerz.substack.com/p/i-had-an-eating-disorder

social media and food

while I feel honestly mostly okay with the whole body image thing when I browse social media, I just cannot deal with the constant food talk. I just browsed my mastodon timeline for the first time in a while and got reminded of it in a pretty intense way, included a few different and very unpleasant cravings for stuff I don't even like.

social media is tough.

https://alexsirac.com/social-media-and-food/

Yesterday's #blogpost, I forgot to share!

Sorry for the blog boosting here. Would love more readers and engagement in my posts

Eating Disorder - Getting help
https://cynnisblog.wordpress.com/2023/07/15/eating-disorder-getting-help/

#introduction

*waves* Hey! You can call me Robyn or RobynEatsEverything or REE or slut, if you're feeling nasty.

Here are a bundle of hashtags which help to describe me: #nonbinary, #pansexual, #polyamorous, #plussize, #sexpositive, #sexblogger, #audioporncreator.

I write about #sex, #relationships, and #bodies over on https://robyneatseverything.com There's lots of delicious #smut over there, as well as some funny shit and serious feels about my #eatingdisorder and #recovery.

In 5 days I have my first intake at the mental health care institution for my eating disorder.
It's a new place. New town. New people.
It's five days away and I'm already having anxiety issues!
It's fot the best, it could help me, but I'm so dreading it at the same time...

An #EatingDisorder hotline replaced its human call staff with an #AI #chatbot. Big mistake.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvk97/eating-disorder-helpline-disables-chatbot-for-harmful-responses-after-firing-human-staff

#EatingDisorder Helpline Disables #Chatbot for 'Harmful' Responses After Firing Human Staff
“Every single thing Tessa [the #AI] suggested were things that led to the development of my eating disorder.” https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvk97/eating-disorder-helpline-disables-chatbot-for-harmful-responses-after-firing-human-staff

Glad this #dystopian trip was a short one, it was a terrible idea

#EatingDisorder #Helpline Fires Staff, Transitions to #Chatbot After #Unionization
The chatbot is named "Tessa" and will replace the entire Helpline program starting June 1. https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7ezkm/eating-disorder-helpline-fires-staff-transitions-to-chatbot-after-unionization
Perfectly normal, not #dystopian at all </s>

Come for the "Who could have seen this coming?" disaster, stay for the underlying union-busting!

Eating Disorder Helpline Disables Chatbot for 'Harmful' Responses After Firing Human Staff

“Every single thing Tessa suggested were things that led to the development of my eating disorder.”

https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvk97/eating-disorder-helpline-disables-chatbot-for-harmful-responses-after-firing-human-staff

#AmReading: I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

I finally made it through the library holds list to get this on audiobook (and yes, I did buy the eBook but audio is my jam). If you haven't heard anything other than the sensational title, this book is the powerful true story of a woman coming to terms with her mother's toxic behavior and the profound effect it had on her entire life.

Jennette McCurdy (also known as Sam from iCarly and Sam & Cat) was forced to live her mother's dream of acting. Jennette was unable to experience a normal childhood, being pushed into auditions, beauty regimens, talent training, and eventually eating disorders. Her mother manipulated and abused her for years.

When Jennette's mother died of cancer, she had to grapple with complicated grief. She loved her mother, but hated what her mother had put her through. One quote that stood out to me was:

“I take a longer look at the words on her headstone. Brave, kind, loyal, sweet, loving, graceful, strong, thoughtful, funny, genuine, hopeful, playful, insightful, and on and on… Was she, though? Was she any of those things? The words make me angry. I can’t look at them any longer. Why do we romanticize the dead? Why can’t we be honest about them?”

It's a great lesson to take away. You can both love and hate a person, and you certainly don't have to venerate an abuser after death. Not everyone deserves to be sainted. Kudos to Jennette for seeking treatment for her disorders and sharing her private and uncomfortable tale. I hope it helps readers who might be experiencing toxic relationships and complicated grief.