The father of a Tasmanian teenager who died three years ago in in tragic circumstances says better mental health care could have prevented the tragedy.
Liam Mead's body was found south of Hobart in March 2017, two days after the 16-year-old had been discharged from a private mental health facility in Melbourne. His death was likely a suicide.
An inquest is examining the standard of mental health care in Tasmania and at Melbourne's Albert Road Clinic, where Liam had received treatment for anxiety and depression.
"Liam was a beautiful, child. He was a gifted child. This should not have happened," his father Ted Mead said outside Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday.
One of Australia's top psychiatrists, Professor Patrick McGorry, told the inquest that public youth mental health services in Tasmania are "piecemeal" and not built to scale.
"It's very limited in terms of design ... and is nowhere near what's required," he said.
Prof McGorry said greater resourcing was required and young people needed to have a say in designing care models.
Lawyers representing the Tasmanian Health Service had previously objected to Prof McGorry's evidence being heard, arguing it was outside the inquest's scope.
"For me this is an embarrassment to the government because it really shows how disingenuous they are about adolescent mental health in the state," Mr Mead said.
"I don't think there's going to be closure for me until I see an adolescent mental health facility in Tasmania.
"I don't want to see what I went through happen to other families."
Dr Aaron Groves, Tasmania's chief psychiatrist, told the court that the state was in the process of improving mental health services.
He cited the impending opening of two specialist mental health beds at a new wing being built at Royal Hobart Hospital.
The court heard Liam had previously absconded from the Melbourne clinic, had expressed a desire to go home and spoken of a suicidal ideation.
He had a follow-up appointment scheduled for three days after being discharged.
Mr Mead said he would continue to fight for greater access to mental health support, after Liam's mother Juliet Lavers took her own life this time last year.
"If somebody doesn't make a stand then nothing changes," he said.
The inquest has been adjourned for final submissions.
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Australian Associated Press
