‘We are nowhere near that goal’: Teen deaths expose mental health system failures

Five years after the mental health royal commission and amid revelations of clusters of youth suicides across Melbourne, the Coalition has pledged a comprehensive review of the failures of Victoria’s youth mental health system.

On Tuesday, Aboriginal groups also demanded the government stop avoiding its commitments to mental health, highlighting that 121 Indigenous Victorians had died from suicide in the 2000 days since the royal commission’s final report.

As this masthead revealed on Monday, 10 people, the youngest aged 13, have died in two recent youth suicide clusters in Melbourne’s east, which the state’s health authorities have so far failed to investigate. The clusters are the latest in a series of concerning developments uncovered by this masthead that expose serious issues within the state’s mental health system.

Opposition mental health spokeswoman Emma Kealy said it was time for an urgent review, at arm’s length from government.

Kealy said the deaths showed action was needed immediately and called for a special independent inquiry or panel that went beyond the typical investigations that follow a suicide.

“It’s a tragedy that at least 10 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,” she said.

“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.

“The Nationals and Liberals 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.”

Victoria’s Department of Health has confirmed its youth mental health services provided post-suicide support to the area after being alerted to the deaths in Melbourne’s east.

But because it does not have records of the children receiving help at public hospitals before they died, there is no review from the chief psychiatrist, Safer Care Victoria or the Suicide Prevention and Response Office into the suitability or capacity of services in the area.

On Tuesday, Stitt was questioned in parliament about whether she would launch an independent inquiry into the possible clusters.

“Any suicide, particularly of a young person, is absolutely devastating, and I give my heartfelt condolences to those impacted by these incidents,” Stitt said.

“It is an incredibly difficult time for those families, loved ones, friends and indeed that community.”

Ahead of the state election, peak body Mental Health Victoria is asking parties to commit to a reset of the state’s mental health reforms in their first 100 days of government, including assessing whether the system is performing adequately and what new issues need to be prioritised.