Senator slams bullying behaviour Patients cop online abuse
CORONAVIRUS patients in regional towns are being subjected to deplorable online “witch hunts”, including one virus sufferer who had their personal details published on social media.
Townsville-based LNP Senator Susan Mcdonald ( right) has slammed the behaviour, saying people who contracted COVID-19 didn’t need the added anxiety and stress of being harassed, ostracised and bullied.
Senator Mcdonald, who was Townsville’s second confirmed case of the virus, had her own social interactions scrutinised publicly, but said she had taken it in her stride due to the nature of her job.
Townsville’s first COVID-19 case, Ann Robert’s School of Dance production manager Andre Reynaud and his family and colleagues sufffered an onslaught of f online abuse after it was revealed he had travelled to New Zea- land before finding his s test was positive.
Queensland’s peak k medical body has al- ready warned of a spike in anxiety and depression in the community amid increasing isolation measures put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Senator Mcdonald said a counsellor from the Rural and Remote Mental Health Service had informed her a patient in southern Queensland had been subject to harassment while another had personal details published online, a practice referred to as “doxxing”.
“Let me be crystal clear – people pe are being bullied bu and those doing do it should be utterly ut ashamed of themselves,” th she said. sa “It’s un-australian tr and it’s not on. on Coronavirus is something so that will touch to us all and communities co that stick together and support sufferers will be more successful. “Many people are under stress and many are scared, and when you receive that diagnosis, the last thing you need is the added anxiety of being harassed.”
Senator Mcdonald said those who felt anxious or were being bullied could get in touch with the Rural and Remote Health Service for counselling, or services such as Lifeline, the Salvation Army, Red Cross or Beyond Blue.