Question

A 29-year-old fly-in fly-out mine worker in Western Australia develops acute suicidal ideation while on site. The nearest tertiary hospital is several hours away by road and the on-site clinic has telehealth capability. According to principles of rural and remote mental health care, what is the most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Undertake urgent suicide risk assessment, ensure safety, and arrange telepsychiatry review with consideration of retrieval if high risk

Answer

Advise him to wait until his next break and see his GP then

Answer

Dismiss his concerns as homesickness and provide no further assessment

Answer

Transfer him immediately by private car with no prior assessment

Answer

Prescribe benzodiazepines by phone without assessment and continue usual duties

Practice question