Hailee Hildebrandt: Second investigation ordered into teen’s suicide as family claim she could have been saved

A report into the death of a suicidal Perth teenager has exposed a lack of accessible mental health support and bed shortages.

The SAC 1 investigation into Hailee Hildebrandt’s death in January has shattered her mother, who claims she’s still without answers.

The report said that “a lack” of youth mental health facilities contributed to discharge delays, and that overnight leave as part of a discharge plan was continued despite repeated self-harm attempts.

An “explicit” threat and a self-harm attempt triggered a code black alarm only 25 minutes before the 18-year-old was allowed to leave. That was the second code black in four days.

“The treating team considered this to be part of an established pattern of distress . . . recognising the consumer requested leave and continues to self-harm in the inpatient environment,” the report said.

Clinical notes said Hailee was at “chronic risk” of self-harm and suicide, or misadventure, particularly when perceived needs were not met.

She had told nursing staff she believed the hospital wanted her to “get the f... out”.

Hailee left Fiona Stanley Hospital without prescribed medication and personal belongings and no family or friends were contacted.

She sent a distressing text message to her mother: “this doctor thinks im being funny I’ll f...... prove to him I’m not being funny”.

Two hours later, Hailee’s body was found in Kings Park.

Stacey Hildebrandt hadn’t been told she’d been removed as next of kin.

She believes she was robbed of a chance to save her, and wants a new SAC1 report.

“They didn’t give us the the chance to even safety plan for our own daughter,” she said.

“Had they released her for that period of time into our care and waited for somebody to get there and put her in our car, we wouldn’t be having this conversation now.

“I don’t think she would be completely fixed, but I do not believe she would have ended her life that day”.

The report found the health service took no steps to identify an alternative next-of-kin or personal support person.

“This limitation reduced the capacity to safely trial leave,” it said.

A South Metropolitan Health spokesperson described Hailee’s death as “tragic” and said it accepts all 21 recommendations of the SAC1 report.

“Work is underway to put these into practice,” a statement said.

Health and Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammat said she expects all recommendations to be implemented “in full” but has also demanded another investigation.

“I have written to the chief psychiatrist asking that they undertake a further investigation,” she said.

“The Cook Labor Government remains committed to strengthening Western Australia’s mental health system so people can access safe, compassionate and high-quality care when and where they need it.”

A key recommendation is for a new “robust” process to identify a personal support person as a primary point of contact, where there is no next-of-kin, and a “red flag” process for safer leave and discharge planning.

But Ms Hildebrandt has little faith in the system to adopt promised change.

“I feel like it’s still just all words,” she said.

“The issue here is some of these recommendations should have already been in place, and more than likely are in place, but they were not followed.

“When you have a child that mentally unwell they cannot make simple decisions for herself, it’s a no-brainer that you get a family member involved,” she said.

“Whether it be her mum, her dad. Or she had best friends who were over the age of 18, she had grandparents go in and visit her. There was always an option for somebody to be notified.”

There have been similar recommendations before, after other deaths linked to the State’s mental health system.

The 2012 Stokes review said carers “must be involved” in a patient’s discharge plan, including the place, day and time of discharge.

An inquest into five suicides linked to Fremantle’s Alma Street Centre in 2015 warned that discharge decisions were made hastily, without adequate assessment or family consultation.

It recommended the implementation of Carer’s Plans.

And a chief psychiatrist’s review in 2020 triggered by the death of Kate Savage established Community Intensive Treatment Services in Perth’s north, east and south to “assist the timely and safe transition of children from hospital”.

But the SAC1 report into Hailee’s death said a referral to Youth Hospital in The Home was delayed and cited “constrained availability” of suitable or agreed accommodation.

“The 2012 Stokes Review explicitly mandated that carers and family members must be actively included in the care, treatment, and discharge planning of mental health patient,” shadow health minister Libby Mettam said.

“Yet this SAC 1 report shows that did not happen in Hailee Hildebrandt’s case. That raises serious questions about what became of the Stokes Review recommendations, which the Mental Health Minister claimed in February had been implemented.

“How can West Australians have confidence in those assurances when they are so clearly at odds with Hailee’s tragic experience and the findings of this SAC 1 report?”

Hailee had been unwell since she was 12 and was diagnosed with a personality disorder, but was admitted in late 2025 due to disordered eating with periods of involuntary status.

In October, she was admitted to the FSH mental health youth unit for “risk containment” while awaiting a bed elsewhere.

“Due to lack of bed availability, the transfer to the other facility was not possible,” the report said.

That triggered the first of “many episodes” of self-harm. Hailee remained a patient at FSH until the day of her death.

Her primary treating psychiatrist changed multiple times due to “service demands and leave”.

Ms Hammat said more than $235 million has been invested since 2022 into the transformation of the State’s mental health system for children and young people.

Planning and design works are underway for a youth “step-up step-down” facility in Balcatta.

It’s too late for Hailee.

“While progress has been made, there is always more work to do,” the minister said.

“Every serious incident must be carefully examined so we can continue to strengthen our services, improve the way care is delivered and reduce the likelihood of similar tragedies occurring in the future.”

Ms Hildebrandt has been left broken, not only by her daughter’s death but by an exhausting seven-month fight for answers and change.

Health officials have refused to answer her questions in writing. She has refused to meet them in person.

“Some of the issues raised are complex, nuanced, deeply personal and highly dependent on clinical context,” a SMHS spokesperson said.

“SMHS believes direct discussion provides the best opportunity to ensure questions can be explored fully, respectfully and accurately.”

A new investigation won’t bring Hailee back, but Ms Hildebrandt wants her memory to save others.

“It’s just not the same without her. I hate that my other two kids don’t get the best of me. They see a sad mum all the time,” she said.

“I just wish this didn’t happen. And to anyone else going through it, please, it’s not as bad as what you think it is. Nobody wants you to not be around. Your family love you, and just don’t do it.”

Lifeline: 13 11 14.

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL): 1300 555 788