Chief psych must reveal his advice to Daniel Andrews

The chief psychiatrist finally fronted the media to dish up empty platitudes. But where was he when ludicrous playground bans were touted?

Victoria’s chief psychiatrist must reveal his role in the ludicrous playground ban. Picture: David Crosling

Victoria’s chief psychiatrist has belatedly addressed the public after pressure from media and leading mental health experts.

But all we got were empty platitudes and mealy-mouthed “captain obvious” advice.

One could be forgiven for thinking Neil Coventry was in a witness protection program as Victorians endured one of the harshest and longest lockdowns anywhere in the world.

What we need to know is what role, if any, has the chief psychiatrist played in advising Dan Andrews’ government throughout the pandemic? Was he consulted before the infamous playground and skate park ban?

Is he advising crisis cabinet about the impact each lockdown measure has on Victorians’ mental health and ensuring the fact that Victorian hospitals are seeing a sharp surge in teenagers needing emergency care for self-harm and suicidal ideation is front of mind when the Premier determines policy?

Has he pushed for mental health data to be released at the daily press conferences along with Covid-19 numbers?

In a six-week period, an average of 342 teenagers a week were admitted to Victorian hospitals suffering mental health emergencies, according to a report by the Victorian Agency for Health Information.

And what part is Dr Coventry playing in pushing for Victorian schools to reopen?

Two positive moves the state government has made this week were to stop misinformation about vaccine availability — there are millions of doses of AstraZeneca available — and shortening the wait between first and second dose to six weeks.

That presents the government with a golden opportunity to do something meaningful for Victorian families.

In the next six weeks, ensure every teacher who wants the vaccine is jabbed and reopen schools as a matter of priority.

Term four could begin with reduced staff levels for the first couple of weeks but as every school employee is vaccinated, we can in at least one area bring some measure of normality to children’s lives.

After a couple of months of ignorant gloating, the Victorian government has gone back to trailing NSW, which has just over 70 per cent of residents vaccinated with at least one jab, compared to 58 per cent of Victorians.

There is every chance that NSW residents will be living more freely before Victorians thanks to their advanced road map and vaccination rate.