The grieving family of a teenager who took her own life after involuntarily spending nine months in a ‘short stay’ mental ward have called for reforms in the public health system.
Giaan Ramsay, 17, in July this year became the third teenager to die after being treated at Robina Hospital’s mental health ward, on the Gold Coast.
On July 27 her devastated family found her body 200m from the institute’s doors, just 10 days after she’d been released from the facility.
In an interview with A Current Affair on Thursday night, Giaan’s parents Steve and Lizel Ramsay said they wanted to bring her home, but authorities insisted she stay at the facility.
‘I walk into the room and Giaan is pacing from one wall to the other. It’s a little room – it’s three metres by two metres,’ Mr Ramsay said.
‘Up and down, up and down, up and down, scratching herself, up and down. I’m going, ”Who is this? who are you?” And the only thing that changed is they put her on this antidepressant.’
The doctors changed Giaan’s medication from Sertraline to another antidepressant, Venlafaxine – which is known to cause appetite suppression.
‘You’re giving my daughter, who’s a diagnosed anorexic, a drug that causes anorexia, and she hasn’t eaten solid foods in nine months. Can you connect the dots?’ Mr Ramsay said.
Giaan Ramsay (pictured with her mother, Lizel Ramsay) took her own life after she was treated at Robina Hospital’s mental health ward in July
A Gold Coast Health spokesman said Robina Hospital (pictured) takes mental health discharges very seriously
In an earlier interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin, the teenager’s family shared one of her final messages: ‘Don’t let me be forgotten, don’t let my strength go to waste. Be what I couldn’t, say what I couldn’t.’
Two of Giaan’s four siblings – Justine, 23, and Kristin, 20 – have also spoken out about their sister’s nine-month stay at Robina Hospital.
Giaan was committed to the facility, against her wishes, after struggling with an eating disorder, which her parents first noticed in 2021.
As part of her treatment, the family alleged up to five male staff members would hold her down during force feedings.
‘Some of the comments made were just unbelievable, one person told Giaan they wished they were as thin as she was,’ Kristin said.
‘They would do all this damage and then we would try to undo it all, we were the ones trying to picking up the pieces they broke, calming her down.
‘Yet we’re not allowed to be responsible for her care?’
Giaan’s family had put all their effort into helping her recover and, while conflicted, hoped the involuntary committal to the ‘short-stay’ mental health ward would accomplish what they couldn’t.
Giaan’s parents Steve and Lizel Ramsay (pictured) claim their daughter was put on a medication that can cause appetite suppression while being treated for anorexia
However, Giaan’s health continued to decline as her stay in the facility stretched on.
The teenager would send messages to her family describing being ‘punished’ for not ‘complying’ with ward rules.
Those punishments would include having her phone taken away, outside time restricted and isolation.
Giaan wrote in one message: ‘Brother, brother, brother, why after seven months am I no closer to discharge when I’ve been compliant with everything.
‘I have gained the weight, I’ve done the treatments, I’ve taken the meds, now let me out. I’ve been incident free for months yet they’re reducing my leave?
Police, the coroner, the Health Ombudsman and Gold Coast Health are investigating Giaan’s death.
In a statement to the Ombudsman, Gold Coast health described restraining Giaan, using a feeding tube and limiting her outdoor access.
Justine, who was closest to Giaan, has questioned why the mental health system focuses on punishing bad behaviour over rewarding good.
Giaan (pictured, left, with her mother and sister) struggled to recover while living in the mental facility with no end in sight
When Giaan was finally released from Robina Hospital, her family said they were given no care plan.
Giaan took her life outside the facility a short time after being discharged.
Justine, alongside her partner Australian sprinter Tyson Bonney, has launched the brand Gia Active, named for Giaan.
The sisters designed the products together and chose a charity, Black Dog Institute, that it would support.
A Gold Coast Health spokesman was unable to comment specifically on Giaan’s case due to the ongoing investigation into her death.
‘Losing a loved one to suicide is always heartbreaking and we acknowledge the profound grief the family is experiencing,’ he said.
‘The consumer was provided appropriate trauma-informed and comprehensive evidence-based care in line with clinical best practice throughout their treatment with a high level of clinical oversight and governance.’
Another Gold Coast Health spokesperson told The Daily Mail it takes mental health discharges seriously.
‘Every clinical decision was carefully explained, discussed, and consent sought from parents where possible, and included a high level of clinical oversight and governance from external experts to ensure best practice,’ they said.
‘Upon discharge, this patient was transitioned to care provided in the community and received ongoing support from a team of clinical experts, including psychologists and psychiatrists, in a less restrictive environment compared to an inpatient setting.
‘This is an essential step in recovery and connecting back into community life.’
If you or a loved one need support, free counselling is available 24/7 at:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
