Loved ones of Maroochydore teen lash government’s mental health response

The loved ones of Maroochydore teen Sorawit ‘JJ’ Nganprateepkul have criticised the mental health system they say failed the 19-year-old teen in the lead-up to his death.

Tayla Bennett spent a lot of time with Sorawit 'JJ' Nganprateepkul. Picture: Contributed

A family still reeling from the death of their loved one has lashed out at the federal government over what they say is a broken mental health system which failed a popular teen and prominent social media creator.

The family who took in Maroochydore man Sorawit Nganprateepkul, 19, before he died in an incident at a major Sunshine Coast road on February 16 has called for more state and federal funding of the mental health sector.

Three weeks after his tragic death, the family he lived with for two years continues to grieve his loss.

His carer Cate Moloney said she also felt guilt as she wondered if she could have done more to help him.

She said Sorawit, called JJ by his loved ones, had left home and was couchsurfing when he asked to stay with her for two weeks.

Chanel, Kyal and Cate Moloney, holding a picture of Sorawit 'JJ' Nganprateepkul, are devastated by JJ's death.

“He stayed for two years,” Ms Moloney said.

Ms Moloney also claimed JJ attempted to take his own life at the beginning of February, about two weeks before his death.

The popular Tik Tok content creator known to his loved ones as ‘JJ’ had more than 2300 followers and a large majority of his videos had amassed more than 30,000 views.

His final Tik Tok video, shared prior to the incident, was an emotional post depicting a view of clouds outside an aeroplane window, giving some hint as to the pain he was suffering.

Sorawit 'JJ' Nganprateepkul and his best friend Kyal Moloney. Photo: Contributed

Ms Moloney said he had been checked into the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and was there for a few hours before he decided to leave, with the acute care unit checking in on him.

Her son Kyal Moloney was JJ’s best friend.

They met at Maroochydore State High School and JJ dropped out of school soon after moving out of home and started looking for work instead because he felt he needed to earn money.

Kyal said he knew JJ had struggled with his mental health but when he first moved in with Kyal’s family, he would not often talk about it.

Kyal previously told the Sunshine Coast Daily that JJ could not afford to see a psychologist.

Ms Moloney said her experience was that it was a wait of between three months and a year to see a psychologist on the Sunshine Coast.

“That’s what I know from my own kids, my own experience with them,” Ms Moloney said.

“I had to take my own child to the Gold Coast at one stage (to visit a psychologist).”

Ms Moloney said the 19-year-old’s death was “devastating” for her family.

She said in the weeks leading up to JJ’s death, there were mood changes to a “darker” mood and he was not leaving the house or communicating with friends as much as usual.

Kyal’s girlfriend Tayla Bennett, 17, who spent a lot of time with JJ before he died, said she was angry at the whole mental health system.

Tayla Bennett spent a lot of time with Sorawit 'JJ' Nganprateepkul. Picture: Contributed

Ms Moloney said something needed “to be done” to help vulnerable men in particular.

“Our government, our federal government really need to do something about it,” she said.

She said, in JJ’s case, he needed earlier intervention.

“The system is failing kids and JJ is a prime example of that.”

Services available on the Sunshine Coast

A Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman said, due to patient confidentiality, she could not comment on a medical record or confirm if a person was a patient of the health service.

She said the mental health and specialised service cared for children, young people and adults in partnership with community providers and GPs and alongside their family or carer.

“This includes specialist acute inpatient hospital-based services and a range of community-based specialist child and adolescent mental health treatment services across the region,” she said.

“We offer a free and confidential mental health care service for children and young people aged up to 18.”

She said many young people could get help from schools, community groups or their GP.

“However, some people need more specialised care,” the spokeswoman said.

She said some of the things the service focused on included symptoms of severe mental health problems, severe depression and anxiety, self-harming and suicidal behaviour and eating disorders.

A Country to Coast spokeswoman said mental health services had experienced a “huge surge in demand” during and post the Covid-19 pandemic.

“A recent Australian Psychological Society survey revealed that 88 per cent of psychologists observed an increase in demand for services since the pandemic, with more children, young people and men seeking help,” she said.

Country to Coast delivers the Primary Health Network’s programs on behalf of the federal government.

Federal government’s response

A federal Department of Health and Aged Care spokesman outlined that in this financial year, the government would invest almost $400m in youth mental health programs across Australia.

In the Sunshine Coast region that includes funding for a new Headspace in Caloundra and $1.59m for Headspace in Maroochydore to reduce wait times.

The spokesman said the government recognised the “complexity and fragmentation” of the mental health and suicide prevention system and was committed to implementing ongoing system reforms.

“That’s why we are not shying away from developing and implementing a more equitable and sustainable Better Access program and broader mental health system – one based on the evidence – and that ensures no one is left behind,” he said.

The spokesman said many Better Access providers were currently at capacity.

“The Australian government is committed to expanding the range and supply of psychological services for everyone, but this ultimately will involve building the mental health workforce and developing new digital and direct models of service,” he said.

What the state government is doing

A spokesman for the state government health minister Yvette D’Ath said it was always a tragedy when someone took their own life.

“Suicide prevention is one reason why the Palaszczuk Government has committed $1.645bn in new funding over the next five years to improve mental health, alcohol and other drug services,” he said.

“Central to this is Better Care Together – a plan for Queensland’s state-funded mental health, alcohol and other drug services through to 2027.

“Within that program there is $80.1m in funding for suicide prevention.”

The spokesman said $68.23m was being invested in new youth mental health services.

He said construction was underway on mental health units in Cairns, the Fraser Coast and Ipswich, while work was about to start on a $122.7m secure mental health rehabilitation unit with 40 beds at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

If you or someone you love is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. If it is an emergency please call triple-0.

Originally published as Loved ones of Maroochydore teen lash government’s mental health response