Dad’s fears for other parents as inquest told adolescent mental health treatment options ranged from ‘limited’ to ‘inappropriate’

Mental health treatment options for adolescents in Tasmania have been described as limited and, in some cases, “completely inappropriate”, an inquest has heard.

Ted Mead with a picture of his son Liam, who died in March 2017, and Liam’s mother Juliet Lavers, who died in February. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

INPATIENT mental health options for adolescents in Tasmania are “very limited”, not ideal and, in some cases, “completely inappropriate”, an inquest has heard.

Coroner Ken Stanton is investigating the death of Taroona boy Liam Mead, 16, who died on March 7, 2017.

The Hobart coroners court has heard Liam’s father Ted Mead believed his son’s death was a suicide.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Ian Sale has also told the inquest Liam’s death was more likely suicide than an accident.

Hobart child and adolescent psychiatrist Jason Westwater treated Liam on five occasions before Liam was admitted to a private clinic in Melbourne on February 13, 2017, where he remained until he chose to be discharged on March 5.

Dr Westwater said inpatient admissions were not always the solution, and when asked if Liam would have been a candidate for inpatient care at the Royal Hobart Hospital, had it been available, he said “potentially”.

The inquest is examining the adequacy of mental health services for adolescents in Tasmania where there are no inpatient adolescent mental health services.

Dr Westwater said if he had a patient who required inpatient care, the options in Tasmania were “very limited”.

He said patients could either be admitted to the paediatric ward at the Royal Hobart Hospital, or the adult psychiatric ward.

“It’s completely inappropriate developmentally for a young person to be admitted [to the] adult psychiatric ward,” Dr Westwater said.

He said the paediatric ward was also problematic because of the wide range of patients it treated.

“It’s noisy, it’s not conducive to psychiatric recovery,” he said.

“We essentially try our best, it’s not ideal, but it’s all we’ve got.”

Outside the court, Mr Mead said the inquest was “the closure point” for him.

“There will always be a hollow and a spot in my life that will be difficult to fill … I just fear for other parents that they don’t go through this process,” he said.

Adolescent mental health facilities are expected to open in Launceston in September and in Hobart in the following six months.

The inquest continues.

For 24/7 crisis support contact Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.