Orygen Youth Support - Footscray, Victoria

zen W.

90% of the staff there are very professional, caring, and compassionate. this place is not perfect for sure but they literally saved my life. without them i would’ve literally been a goner already since i was suffering from severe depression and then bipolar. for that reason alone, anything below a 5 star review feels wrong to me. but still, some staff there don’t even have any compassion at all and can be a bit egotistical. anyways, thank you orygen ipu:)

Gabrielle

Inpatient care unit is absolutely pathetic. Don't let anyone tell you that they're there to help, they're not. Majority of the staff are incredibly rude, speak down to you and don't listen to anything you say. The doctors must have found their qualification in a Corn Flakes box, and will dismiss anything you say regarding your opinions on treatment. This place is quite literally just a place to go if you want to end up in a worse state than what you were originally in. Medications shoved down your throat so they don't have to deal with you 24/7, and god help you if you reject any medication. Another patient also went into my room and destroyed my personal property, to which they did nothing about.

Also to parents reading these reviews, don't expect anything to be communicated to you. They lie and tell you that your kid is fine. They don't even check. I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone. You're better off staying at home and calling lifeline or something. At least they'll actually listen to you instead of giving you a tablet to sleep so they don't have to deal with you.

Alekat

You can feel comfort in knowing that your abusers will be called and for you not to know until you submit a freedom of information request.

Also got to love the “deadname”, prefers “legal name”, that clinicians write of the files of trans people. Reassuring to know that when they think your legal name isn’t what you say it is that they don’t give you any more rights than legally required. Comes with the trans experience I guess, my bad guys. I should have known changing my name years ago would lead to clinical malpractice. I’ll see my impaired judgment out ✌️

On a (slightly) more serious note, expect not to be listened to and to be not treated for anything. My partner was misdiagnosed with Borderline and given antidepressants to “treat” it instead of being referred to the actual BPD treating team. Appointments with psychiatrists are often invaliding and seem like interrogations. My partner was “undiagnosed” with BPD the next appointment and diagnosed with something else. The appointment after, a different psychiatrist “disagreed” with the assessment and tried to undiagnose her again! Medical diagnoses are not Pokemon: you don’t need to catch them all...

And also don’t even bother if you struggle to make phone calls. Alternative communication modes are not given to people, even with significant disability in social communication. Complaining about it, even via MHCC doesn’t seem to even go anywhere.

Jelly J.

Today I finally reached out for help for my never ending battle with anxiety, depression and looking for an adhd care plan to help. I begged not to be put on antidepressants I'm already at the edge and I've been pushed. What I'm going through I already feel like a burden I can't eat, sleep,constant night mares, I can't focus, I move from job to job, I fear rejection, I'm impulsive, my intrusive thoughts have taken over my thought process and etc. All of this and the result was ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND THERAPY? And being told my journey ends here and what I learn should help for the rest of my life? When I finally decide to attempt will I be taken seriously then? Will someone finally give me a helping hand ? Will someone not talk over me or cut me off when my lip is quivering trying not to cry for the 90th time about sexual abuse, while I try to piece my sentences together? My mind doesn't work properly and my body is reflecting that but because I make a joke or try to make a serious conversation light or else I can't speak about what's happening to me I no longer need help. I give up on trying. This is the end for me.

Ilovelikea T.

Dr. Catherine is very professional. She helped my son for quick recovery. The nurses and other staff is very kind and generous. They were never annoyed with us. This is a very good place for the patients who suffering with anxiety and depression with psychosis. Thanks a lot to Dr Catherine, Nurses, staff and the Victorian Govt for providing youth support facilities.

I strongly recommend and suggest the parents to have patience and trust in orygen health. Listen to the psychiatrist and follow their instructions and professional advice. At the end you will be happy with results depends on illness.

I thank you once again to orygen and its staff fo helping my son. I shall never forget for their support to us in our hardship.

Nurse and staff: Tauba, Fridah, Chanel, Faisal, Laura, Deepak, Mitchell, diana, vicky and others provided effective and efficient service to us.

Thanks to all of you and Dr. Catherine.

Cee M.

I have two friends that are with the service. One of them ended up discharging them self after being restrained and medication constantly being used to zombify them. Incorrect diagnosis were given, despite multiple other professionals stating otherwise. At the end of the stay, all medications were ceased because ‘medication doesn’t work for people like you’. Causing disruption to sleep and constant dissociation. They now plan to fully discharge from the service and seek help elsewhere.

My second friend, despite multiple suicide attempts was refused additional help; with irregular appointments and no chance of inpatient due to a false diagnosis.

The staff are rude to patients, don’t offer support, use dead names, misuse pronouns, don’t check on patients, don’t do anything about people breaking into others rooms and stealing things, and use their ‘no violence policy’ as a reason for not needing to put anything in place to protect other patients from patients that have made threats to harm.

The service needs to be reviewed in order to best benefit the patients utilising the service.

Faith T.

This is my 6th time trying to link with Orygen because of my psychs referral. When being called about making the appointment the woman asked "if I really need their services."

No lady, I'm here for tea, coffee and a social catchup.

Any other time I've tried to get appointments with this company there has been no followup whatsoever and they even called my (ex)partner behind my back to try and discuss my health with him instead of me.

Do not recommend, the only reason I'm using this service is on the recommendation of health professionals who have no experience with Orygen whatsoever

Humayun H.

Located on a quiet street next to Footscray hospital. Finding parking could be challenging as on-site parking is not for public. Carry some coins to pay. Staff is very friendly and follow strict COVID19 protocols, mask was a must when i visited last. Good facility as there are enough nurses to look after the patients.