Mum’s fear for Victorian teens’ mental health

A grieving mother whose son died by suicide says she is concerned Victoria’s extended lockdown is “pushing kids to the brink”.

A mother whose son died by suicide during lockdown is convinced he would still be alive if rules hadn’t isolated him from his friends.

Ange Shearman’s 16-year-old son Louie took his own life on April 26 last year.

She said more social connection with mates could have saved Louie, and now fears other teens are being pushed to the brink with Victoria’s “groundhog day” stay at home orders.

“I’m very, very clear that isolation and no connection with his group was a factor in us losing Louie. And that’s now statistically becoming really obvious,” Ms Shearman, from Ocean Grove, said.

“That could have been the difference.”

The most recent findings from the Coroners Court of Victoria show while the total number of deaths by suicide in Victoria remained relatively stable compared to pre-pandemic levels, eight girls under the age of 18 have died by suicide over the past year, compared to just one in 2020.

Ocean Grove mother Ange Shearman with a picture of her son Louie. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Five boys under 18 have died by suicide this year to date.

The heartbroken mother said she was “gobsmacked” by the Andrews government’s blanket lockdown approach that prioritised physical health over mental health.

Ms Shearman said: “I just know if Louie had been able to leave the house, go to school, run around in the playground that just might have taken away that pile of emotion.”

“If he locks us down until November, which is highly likely, he’s going to push kids to the brink,” she said.

Louie died by suicide aged 16.

Louie’s mother Ange Shearman says she fears for other teens.

A Beyond Blue spokeswoman said demand for the mental health charity’s support services had surged 30 per cent over pre-pandemic levels.

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute developmental paediatrician Professor Sharon Goldfeld said Victorian students had been resilient during the pandemic, but separation from the classroom’s structured routine and peers still took a toll.

“It’s wearing and it’s distressing. We can’t pretend that there’s no impact,” Prof Goldfeld said.

“Protecting them against Covid doesn’t mean they’re okay.”

Recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system that emerged in the months after Louie’s death found schools had a role to play in supporting student’s “social and emotional wellbeing”, suggesting programs be made available to drive down stigma often associated with mental health.

Ms Shearman called for the state government not to repeat last year’s lockdown approach by opening schools in some capacity amid tightening restrictions in regional Victoria that limited the construction and childcare sectors.

“You can manage to open construction sites and brothels he (Daniel Andrews) says can be open, so you can manage kids going to school and coming home from school,” she said.

Prof Goldfeld said calls for a national plan to fast track vaccinations for teachers and students needed to make more headway if lockdowns remained central to the government’s pandemic response.

Ms Shearman said: “It’s Groundhog Day, nothing has changed.”