Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Emma Kealy, has called for an urgent inquiry into child and youth mental health services in Victoria following revelations of two youth suicide clusters in Melbourne’s east.
Ms Kealy said the revelations exposed a system that only reviews a child’s death if they had already been treated within the public mental health system.
“It’s a tragedy that at least ten young lives have been lost across two clusters in the same part of Melbourne, and yet nobody in government has thought to ask why or to look into the circumstances that connect them to stop further deaths.” Ms Kealy said.
This week marks 2000 days since the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System handed down its final report, with the Labor Government failing to implement most of its recommendations.
The report was hyped as a landmark moment that promised a rebuilt system for the state’s most vulnerable people.
Instead, Victorian families are now faced with a service in crisis and a government that prioritises avoiding scrutiny above caring for children in need.
Ms Kealy said the Labor Government had sold a promise of serious mental health reform but were delivering a compromised mental health system.
“There must be an urgent investigation into child and mental health support services in Victoria, and it is a heartbreaking failure that this hasn’t already been initiated by Labor Minister Ingrid Stitt,” Ms Kealy said.
“The Liberals and Nationals are committed to get mental health reforms back on track. More than 2000 days have passed since the Royal Commission handed down its final report and yet most recommendations have been delayed or scrapped and mental health outcomes are worsening.
The call for the inquiry comes after a string of recent revelations exposed the scale of failure by the Carroll Labor Government.
In addition to the disturbing reports of the suicide clusters, it has also been recently revealed:
- The Victorian Government rejected a $4.5 million funding plea from Kids Helpline, despite Victoria recording the highest rate of children in crisis of any state and only 58 per cent of young Victorians reaching out for help receiving a response.
- The government’s flagship Parkville Youth Mental Heath and Wellbeing Service has been plagued by violence, drug use and patient deaths, with its Queensland-based CEO resigning earlier this month.
- A Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission report tracking the Royal Commission’s own reforms was substantially rewritten before release, with critical findings removed and the number of recommendations assessed as progressing almost doubled.
Youth mental health pioneer, Professor Pat McGorry, has separately raised concerns about the lack of transparency and co-ordinated action, warning the public system has not been properly resourced to respond to the crisis since the Royal Commission.
“Victorians pay a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Levy because Labor told them every dollar was needed to rebuild a broken system,” Ms Kealy said.
“Urgent action is required to ensure all families and children can access the mental health support they need, and stop the heartbreaking impacts of suicide for children, families, friends, schools and our communities.”
