A relieved Emma Parrey says she can now focus on her daughter’s recovery.
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After a harrowing two-year journey, 16-year-old Stephanie, has finally been admitted to the Walker Unit.
Here, she will finally receive long-term treatment for her complex mental health problems.
The specialist facility in Sydney is secure, the average stay is six months, and a multidisciplinary treatment team takes a holistic approach to helping young people aged between 12-18 along with their families.
The teenager needs to be in a fully supervised, secure environment as she has progressed from having, and acting on, suicidal thoughts to displaying homicidal tendencies.
Ms Parrey has been fighting to get her daughter access to this service after numerous traumatic admissions to the short-stay 12-bed Nexus unit at the John Hunter Hospital failed to halt her downward spiral.
And, a referral from the Nexus Unit to the Walker Unit was mysteriously closed.
Despite her private psychiatrist, and her FACS case worker, agreeing intensive treatment was necessary.
Sadly, a desperate Ms Parrey had to turn to the media to “save” her teenage daughter’s life.
A friend also started a facebook, and fundraising page, as preventing Stephanie from harming herself and others, has placed an enormous strain on the family.
However, at 12.30pm on Tuesday Stephanie was admitted to the Walker Unit.
Ms Parrey says she will now be focusing on Stephanie's recovery and has vowed to continue to highlight the lack services available for teenagers with a mental illness.
“I would also like to thank the local community for being so supportive,” she says.
“I am so relieved Steph will now be receiving the treatment she needs, and we need as a family. I am now feeling more positive for our families future now.”