A Perth teenager died by suicide hours after being discharged from Fiona Stanley Hospital, a critical review has revealed. Hailee Hildebrandt, 18, was a mental health patient at the hospital when she died on January 13, despite having attempted suicide just 25 minutes before her release.
The review found that clinical notes described Hildebrandt as being at 'chronic risk' of self-harm and suicide, and that she made 'explicit statements' about her intention to end her life before leaving the facility. Her mother, Stacey Hildebrandt, has questioned why her daughter was allowed to leave hospital given her deteriorating condition.
"I cannot figure out how they couldn't recognise the crisis she was in and still let her go," Stacey Hildebrandt told 102.5 ABC Perth Radio. The review also noted that hospital staff did not contact her mother to collect Hildebrandt's belongings, despite the teenager asking them to do so. Furthermore, her mother was no longer listed as the next of kin, a change she stated she was not notified of and found concerning given her daughter's mental state.
Hildebrandt left the hospital without her medication or personal belongings, and no family or friends were contacted. After her discharge, she sent a series of distressing text messages to her mother indicating her intention to commit suicide. Stacey Hildebrandt then contacted police, who located her daughter unresponsive.
A spokesperson for the South Metropolitan Health Service called Hailee's death 'tragic' and confirmed that all 21 recommendations from the SAC1 report have been accepted. One key recommendation involves establishing a new, 'robust' process to identify a personal support person as the primary contact when a patient has no next of kin. Another recommendation calls for a 'red flag' process to enhance leave and discharge planning.
Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammat stated that all review recommendations are expected to be implemented fully. She acknowledged the family's pain and assured Stacey Hildebrandt that the review's findings are being treated with the utmost seriousness. The government remains committed to improving Western Australia's mental health system through service expansion, workforce strengthening, and enhanced care models, incorporating lessons from such reviews.
Minister Hammat has also requested a further investigation into the teenager's care, with a child and adolescent psychiatrist from New South Wales appointed to lead this additional review into the circumstances surrounding Hildebrandt's death. WA Liberal Party deputy leader Libby Mettam raised concerns about the report, highlighting that many identified issues are not new, and stressed the importance of implementing recommendations effectively.
Stacey Hildebrandt expressed her hope that the review's findings will lead to meaningful change. "[We need to] learn from it, make the changes," she said.
Lifeline: 13 11 14. Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800. Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL): 1300 555 788.