A leading Australian psychiatrist says Victorians with runny noses are getting better treatment than patients with severe mental health issues during COVID-19. 

Professor Patrick McGorry’s comments come as Melbourne ED doctors report increasing pressure on mental health beds and staffing, along with a rise in the number of presentations.

Delays in the system came to public attention when video footage emerged on social media at the weekend of a 32-year-old man with bipolar disorder apparently being assaulted by police outside a hospital.

Timothy Atkins presented to Northern Hospital’s ED in Epping for mental health treatment on Saturday 12 September at 9pm