Daughter hopes coroner's inquest leads to better mental health supports on P.E.I.

The daughter of a woman who died after a suicide attempt at a Summerside hospital says the case points to gaps in P.E.I.'s mental health care system.

Lisa Arsenault has been present and asking questions during the three days of a coroner's inquest this week looking into the death of her mother, Angela Arsenault.

The inquest paused on Wednesday, and is expected to resume in late October.

"The last three days have been difficult for our family as we relive the events," Lisa Arsenault said in an email to CBC News.

"For folks who continue to struggle and those who have lost a loved one to mental health. We are with you…. We stand with you to uncover the gaps and ensure we see crucial changes come to fruition."

Angela Arsenault, 67, died of a brain injury after an apparent suicide attempt inside the hospital's psychiatric unit, the inquest heard.

The Tignish woman was struggling with depression and anxiety and had attempted suicide multiple times in the past. In early February 2023, she was rushed to the intensive-care unit at Prince County Hospital after overdosing on her medication in an effort to take her own life.

She recovered, and was assessed by a psychiatrist who admitted her to the hospital's psychiatric unit as an involuntary patient.

Staff was directed to check on her every 15 minutes. During the inquest, Lisa Arsenault questioned why her mother didn't receive constant supervision, given she'd just attempted suicide days before.

Psychiatrist Dr. Tanya Gallant answered: "Given she was no long expressing thoughts of suicide, and said she was grateful to be alive, I felt that [every 15 minutes] was appropriate."

In fact, a few days later, the psychiatrist said Arsenault had shown further signs of improvement, and decided to change the check-ins to every 30 minutes.

It wasn't made clear during the inquest whether that change actually happened.

Found unconcscious

Just a couple of hours later, during a check, staff found Arsenault unconscious in her hospital room's bathroom.

She'd hung herself on the shower curtain rod, and later died of a brain injury.

A similar suicide death took place a decade ago at Hillsborough Hospital in Charlottetown, which led to an inquest and a recommendation that shower curtain rods, coat hooks and door knobs in hospital units should be adjusted so they cannot support a person's weight.

No one has said whether such changes happened at Prince County Hospital.

Lisa Arsenault hopes her the inquest into her mother's death will lead to immediate changes. 

"Based off responses from witnesses, my brother and I see many gaps and differences to the mental health system on the Island compared to Ontario where my mother was treated and supported with mental health supports for over 25 years," she said in her email.

"There's need for more community engagement and consultation from other provinces to support future [mental health] policy reviews. Enhancements in training for front line staff, empowering them to have discretion when assessing risk of self harm. Most importantly, and especially a long standing issue for [residents] in West Prince, basic access to a family/community doctor that can support and follow a patient's journey."

Left behind large family

Lisa Arsenault called her mother "a beautiful person who radiated love and kindness."

"She left behind a large family who loved her immensely, including three grandchildren that were her sunshine." 

The Crown plans to call a few more witnesses to the stand — including the province's medical director of mental health and addictions — when the inquest resumes next month.

When it's over, the six-person jury will issue recommendations on what, if anything, needs to change to prevent similar deaths in the future.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

• Canada Suicide Prevention Service: Call or text 988. 
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (phone), live chat counselling on the website.
• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.
• This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.