'You don't look suicidal' man was told after going to A&E with thoughts of ending his life

A man by the name of Luke got in touch with Andrea Gilligan on Newstalk's Lunchtime Live segment on Monday, March 3, about the shocking and disheartening things mental health professionals said to him, after presenting to A&E twice due to suicidal ideations. 

The first time Luke sought help was in 2010, and then again 2020. Despite a decade of a gap, Luke says both A&E experiences were "an exact mirror" of each other. 

He said, "After informing my GP (of the suicidal thoughts), I was sent A&E, so I did what I was being asked to do, and I waited a few hours each time, but when I was seen by doctors on both occasions, I was told I didn't look suicidal."

Having the same invaliding experience for a second time in 2020, Luke was asked by a doctor in the hospital, "What do you want?" to which Luke replied, "I would like to see someone, maybe a psychiatrist?" 

This doctor informed the man that no one was available to see him for six weeks. Luke was then sent home. 

Speaking on this disappointment, Luke believes the issue is much bigger than people realise. 

He said, "In my own subjective experience, it tells me that this is a systemic problem, because from 2010 to 2020 the experience was exactly the same. So, it would seem that a large percentage of people who present with what I presented with are sent immediately to A&E, that seems to be a systemic thing."