A grieving mother, whose son took his own life during Victorias brutal Covid lockdowns under Dan Andrews, is petitioning for the former premier to lose a lucrative mental health role.
Mr Andrews, who suddenly quit as Victorian premier a year ago, has been appointed chairman of not-for-profit youth mental health service Orygen, which will reportedly pay him around $75,000 a year to attend six scheduled meetings every 12 months.
Ange Shearman, whose 16-year-old son Louie took his own life in April 2020 during Victorias 262 days of lockdown, has created a change.org petition to demand Orygen strip Mr Andrews of the plum job.
I lost my 16-year-old son to suicide in April 2020, during the first of Dan Andrews record six lockdowns, Ms Shearman wrote on the petition.
Louie might have been ground zero in the suicide statistics that were a consequence of the inhumane lockdowns that impacted our young people, but tragically, he is now one of many.
Last weekend, my son would have turned 21.
Instead, our family and his many friends had a fundraiser to support youth mental health charities. We raised over $25,000 for local regional mental health services that have been left decimated by recent cuts by the State Government.
I dont want any more young people to be a statistic like Louie, I dont want any more families to suffer the existential shattering that occurs when you lose a child to suicide.
Anglea Shearman, who lost her 16-year-old son Louie (pictured) to suicide during Victorias brutal lockdowns, is petitioning to have former premier Dan Andrews stripped of a lucrative mental health job
Ms Shearman said she, her husband Brent and daughter Matilda will never be the same following the unspeakable tragedy.
We have been to hell and back, and I have chosen to share our story in the hope that Louies death is not in vain, she said.
But today, we are in shock.
How can a divisive ex-premier in Andrews, who has wreaked havoc on Victoria, presided over the longest lockdowns in the world with the highest suicide rates, be appointed to chair Orygen, a prominent and respected youth mental health body.
The optics alone are horrendous. Its like Orygen and the ex-premier are gaslighting the most vulnerable people in our state.
Its unbelievable and Im asking for your support to reverse this. Orygen must think again.
Mr Andrews (pictured right with wife Catherine) has been appointed chair of not-for-profit youth mental health agency Orygen
Ms Shearmans petition has been supported by Sky News host Peta Credlin, who shared it on her social media
Ms Shearmans petition received support from Sky News host Peta Credlin who shared it on her social media accounts.
Ange Shearman is one of my oldest and dearest friends, Credline wrote.
Those commenting under the petition, which had gathered over 10,000 signatures with its target being 15,000, shared Ms Shearmans outrage and bewilderment at the appointment.
This man (Mr Andrews) orchestrated extreme escalation in mental health issues and rates of suicide amongst youth during his term as premier, one person wrote.
It is abhorrent that he would be appointed to this position.
Victorias apparently endless series of lockdowns previously led Orygen executive director Professor Patrick McGorry to express concern about the toll they were taking.
Prof McGorry told ABCs 7.30 in July 2021 that lockdowns were affecting the mental health of all Victorians but particularly young people.
Weve seen a surge of demand, a surge of need for care, he said.
But we havent been able to meet it because of the level of resourcing that weve actually had.
Orygen executive director Professor Patrick McGorry has backed Mr Andrews appointment despite voicing his concern during the lockdowns about the effect they were having on youth mental health
We cant keep going through these lockdowns. I think people are totally over it. (Lockdowns] sap the wellbeing … the joy out of life.
Morale suffers … theres the impact on social connectedness, social cohesion.
Three years on Professor McGorry has backed Mr Andrews appointment as Orygen chairman.
With 20 years of leadership in mental health reform, Dan Andrews will be an outstanding leader for Orygen and the field of youth mental health, Professor McGorry said.
Mr Andrews has a proven record as an agent of change with a strategic mindset, which are invaluable attributes for Orygen as we continue to lead youth mental health reform while navigating funding challenges to secure the support we need to sustain our vital work.
A longitudinal study of 1,211 students in years 11 and 12 who experienced extended lockdowns in Melbourne over 2020 and 2021 found over 50 per cent reported symptoms of depression and 25 per cent reported symptoms of anxiety.
The risks were higher for students with pre-existing mental health conditions but 20 per cent experienced mental ill health for the first time.
At Monash Childrens Hospital Adolescent Medicine Eating Disorder Unit saw an eating disorder admissions increase by 126 per cent in 2020 compared with the mean yearly admissions from 2016 to 2019.
Melbournes Royal Childrens Hospital Eating Disorder Service found Covid restrictions were reported as a trigger for eating disorder behaviours in over 40 per cent of adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa in 2020.
The rate of intentional self-harm hospitalisations in Victoria for females aged 15 to 19 spiked in 2020 to 2021.
Orygen reported in September there had been an alarming increase in death by suicide for young people in Victoria with incidents for 18-24 demographic increasing by 48 per cent compared to the same time last year.
A record number of Victorians, 801, died by suicide last year, including 73 aged between 18-24 and 26 under-18.
Mr Andrews is set to earn $225,000 over his three-year term at Orygen, which will be on top of his taxpayer-funded pension that costs Victorians more than $300,000 a year.
Prof McGorry has been contacted for comment.