Family of psychology student who slipped through cracks of Victoria’s mental health system wants reform

Regional Victorian families who have lost children to suicide are speaking out about the state’s “broken” mental health system and the need for more acute care outside of the city.

The final report of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, due in February, will come too late for the Farrell family from Willow Grove in the state’s east.

Bryce Farrell died by suicide on November 5, 2018, aged 28.

His death came after multiple visits to a regional hospital mental health ward, day clinics, and regular telephone contact with a community mental health service.

When her son was in crisis, Dianne Farrell said she spent a day ringing every psychologist’s office east of Melbourne but could not get in to see anyone.

“He had nowhere…