'He loved his boy': How schizophrenic dad begged for psychiatric help for weeks before he stabbed his five-year-old son to death - but was repeatedly rejected
- Michael* was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his 20s and coped for many years
- In 2018, when he was 36, Michael stabbed his five-year-old son to death
- Michael's mental health deteriorated in the weeks leading up to the death
- He was found not guilty due to mental illness and remains in a forensic hospital
A father with schizophrenia begged for psychiatric care in the weeks before he killed his five-year-old son, but was repeatedly rejected by health care workers.
Michael*, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early 20s, stabbed his son to death in 2018 in a catastrophe his family says would never have happened if he got the help he desperately sought.
Michael was coping well with his mental illness and was taking medication when he had a son with his girlfriend Anne* in 2012.
In 2018, Michael, then 36, killed the boy following a series of disastrous failures in his treatment and medication, an investigation by ABC's Four Corners has revealed.
In the weeks leading up to his son's death, Michael wasn't coping and was admitted to a Sydney hospital to have his medication reviewed.
Michael* (right) stabbed his son (left) to death in 2018 after a series of failures by his healthcare professionals
Michael's mother Susan* described her grandson's death and the events that led to it as a 'catastrophe,' and said it would never have happened if he got the help he desperately sought
But Michael's doctors assumed he had triggered his psychosis by no longer taking his medication.
However, Michael was taking his medication, but the higher dose was no longer working.
A report indicated the doctors prescribed Michael a lower dose of antipsychotic medication than he was already on.
Michael started feeling better while in hospital, but his condition deteriorated once he was discharged.
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The following week, Michael sought help from his local healthcare provider several times.
But when he told them he didn't feel well they again assumed he wasn't taking his medication and prescribed him the same dose a second time.
Michael's partner and the boy's mother Anne* said the healthcare providers didn't even ask her about his condition.
'I tried to push so hard to tell them that he wasn't well and he needs help, but they just ignored me,' she said.
His family became more concerned when Michael's behaviour became increasingly erratic.
'He got a bit confusing and was talking about the devil and god,' Anne said.
'I monitored him but he didn't get any better. He stopped eating but he still took his medication after he was discharged from hospital.
Michael's partner and the boy's mother Anne* became more concerned when his behaviour became increasingly erratic
Michael was found not guilty of the killing his son (pictured) due to his mental illness, and remains in a secure forensic hospital indefinitely
Michael continued to take the medication and dosage he was prescribed at the Sydney hospital, but didn't bounce back.
The report claimed Michael didn't get get to see a psychiatrist in the weeks after leaving hospital due to under resourcing.
Michael's condition continued to worsen over the following weeks, before he tried to get himself back into the hospital's mental health unit with the help of his concerned mother Susan*.
'I said to (the nurse), 'he's just come out of the hospital and he's having thoughts that his son is the devil',' his mother said.
'We begged and we begged for my son to be admitted to a mental health bed. I pleaded with her, I've never pleaded so much in my life.'
But Michael was told he could have to wait for up to 24 hours to be admitted due to a 'bed block'.
'He was so in need of some attention but they just weren't interested,' Susan said through tears.
Michael tried again to be admitted to hospital the following day, but the mental health worker was distracted due to a large workload, the report states.
The next day Michael killed his son.
Susan described her grandson's death and the events that led to it as a 'catastrophe'.
She said Michael would never have killed his son if he got the help he desperately sought.
'He would have got the help he needed. He would have had his medication sorted out. He would have been fine,' she said.
Michael was found not guilty of the killing due to his mental illness, and remains in a secure forensic hospital indefinitely.
*Names in this story have been changed for legal reasons.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au
