Arabic version: أم تطالب بالتغيير بعد انتحار ابنتها بعد خروجها من المستشفى

A Perth mother has expressed her deep frustration with the Western Australian mental health system following the tragic suicide of her daughter, Hailee, just hours after being discharged from a hospital. Stacey Hildebrandt claims that a series of systemic failures contributed to her daughter’s death on January 13, 2026. According to ABC News, Hailee, who had struggled with mental health issues for years, had been admitted to a mental health ward several times in 2025.

Hildebrandt criticized WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat’s condolences, stating that she feels failed by the system. She noted that despite reaching out for guidance and accountability, the minister only responded after media involvement. “I do not want sympathy; I want systemic change,” Hildebrandt stated.

Hailee had experienced numerous challenges in the mental health system, including frequent changes in clinicians and difficulties in securing timely appointments. Hildebrandt revealed that Hailee had made a serious attempt to take her own life in the ward a few days before her death, a situation she believed warranted her involuntary commitment. However, Hailee was released without a proper care plan, which Hildebrandt argues is a direct violation of recommendations from a 2012 review of the mental health system.

The South Metropolitan Health Service has initiated a clinical review following Hailee’s death, while the state coroner is also investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Hildebrandt continues to seek answers about the lack of communication regarding her daughter’s release and the handling of her mental health crises, emphasizing the need for significant reforms within the mental health care system.