TRAGIC TOLL MOUNTS

MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN: Parents urged to talk to their kids in wake of another Geelong teen suicide

A FOURTH male teen suicide in Geelong in the past three months has prompted mental health advocates to plead with parents to broach the subject with their kids.

It follows the death of a secondary school student at the weekend and research that predicts 82,000 young people in Victoria may develop mental health issues in the next two years.

Clinical practice director at youth mental health service headspace Vikki Ryall encouraged parents to seek information about teen mental health.

“It’s important parents, in communities that have had such difficult things going on, are having conversations with their young people — as openly as they feel comfortable — about what’s going on, how they are feeling and what they are hearing about the tragic situations,” Ms Ryall said.

“It’s OK to step in a bit more for a conversation.”

She said changes in sleeping or eating patterns or withdrawal from sport or other activities could be signs a child is dealing with mental health concerns.

The principal of the boy’s school has asked parents to speak openly about the weekend incident with their children, and tell them they are willing to listen to concerns at any time.

“To support our Year 9 boys, (the school) will be open on Monday and Tuesday with most staff present. Students who wish to gather and seek comfort in each other’s company or access professional support are welcome at school,” the principal wrote in a letter to parents.

“A team of counsellors, psychologists and social workers will be available to meet with individuals or groups.”

Headspace founder and youth mental health expert Melbourne University-based Professor Patrick McGorry said mobile teams of clinicians and care workers that perform outreach in homes and link to headspace and other mental health services were needed.

“It is much more difficult to access care now,” Prof McGorry said. “We’ve got way too many awareness campaigns and not enough action to support the young people.”

Prof McGorry said research from the Orygen institute, of which he is the executive director, predicted an extra 370,000 Victorians, including 82,000 young people, may experience mental health disorders in the next two years.

“No doubt there is going to be a big surge for care as a result of the pandemic and the economic collapse,” he said.

He encouraged young people to volunteer to support their peers.

“They could be the sponge to absorb the initial contact,” Prof McGorry said.

He said the impact of the pandemic on young people should not be underestimated.

“They are the ones that are carrying an extra burden; their futures are being put in doubt and being disrupted,” he said.

“There is much higher rates of unemployment among young people, and a much higher level of distress in all the surveys we’ve got on young people.”

Prof McGorry said health service funding and commissioning needed to be reformed.

“The services are definitely getting there but they are not properly resourced or agile enough,” he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed $48.1 million in additional funding to mental health, including $14 million for support providers faced with surging call volumes.