Virtual Psychologist founder defends MAFS star Jessika Power’s quarantine rant

A Gold Coast influencer who left hotel quarantine after three days says she’s “not this entitled b--ch everyone is saying I am”. Now a psychologist has leapt to her defence.

A GOLD Coast-based reality TV star has hit back at critics who called her an “entitled b--ch” and revealed how she was able to leave Perth hotel quarantine after three days.

Ex-Married At First Sight contestant Jessika Power was the latest social influencer to cop flack online for complaining about “inhumane” conditions of hotel quarantine.

“I wasn’t brought up in a war-torn country, of course my empathy levels and how I’m used to being treated is going to be different,” Ms Power said on her Instagram. “They’ve been brought up with it their entire life, they’re able to cope better with it.”

The MAFS star hit back after fans accused her of whingeing about something so trivial.

“I’m not this entitled b--ch everyone is saying I am,” the 28-year-old influencer told the Bulletin. “How am I entitled by wanting fresh air? I’m sorry, but isn’t that a basic human need?

“Am I entitled for complaining about food that I paid for that is cold?

“People just love to have an opinion about anything I do.”

Reality TV contestant Jessika Power

Three days into her quarantine, she was allowed to fly back to the Gold Coast. She said Queensland Health allowed everyone on her flight to leave the hotel when their Covid-19 tests came back negative.

A Gold Coast psychologist has jumped to her defence as the latest in a growing list of celebrities complaining about hotel quarantine. Virtual Psychologist CEO Dervla Loughnane cautioned people against slamming others for their lockdown rants, saying each person’s experience was based on their own “personal resilience levels”.

Ms Loughnane said every person was “challenged” in their own way with it.

“We don’t ever know the true extent of the impact on (someone’s) mental health, the trauma they’ve been through previously and the true impact of quarantine on their mental state.

“It’s also the fear of the unknown.

“That’s the really big thing for people … just the unknown nature of it all.”

Dervla Loughnane runs Virtual Psychologist. Virtual Psychologist provide 24/7 mental health services and coaching. Picture: Glenn Hampson

An industry veteran of 22 years, Ms Loughnane started the Virtual Psychologist text and phone counselling service four years ago. The past four weeks had seen the highest usage of the service since it first launched, she said.

“It just goes to show the impact of lockdown has been so strong with people who are really struggling,” Ms Loughnane said.

“We just had people right across the nation reach out, with anxiety the number one presenting issue.”