Stacey Hildebrandt calls for change after daughter Hailee’s suicide while inpatient at Fiona Stanley Hospital

Stacey Hildebrandt is brokenhearted but insists she wants change — not sympathy — in the wake of her daughter’s suicide while she was an inpatient at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Hailee was allowed out on day release, only four days after another suicide attempt inside the hospital’s youth mental health ward. The 18-year-old’s mother cannot understand why she was let out. “A system that I trusted, that I thought would keep her alive, has taken her life,” Ms Hildebrandt said. “It was 100 per cent preventable and that’s what makes my heart and my tummy feel absolutely sick.” Ms Hildebrandt was not contacted by the hospital before Hailee left in January. “I would have said no, I can’t have you home. The hospital didn’t ring me,” she said. “I couldn’t have her home if she’s (threatening suicide) because I have two little kids and, obviously, I didn’t want her die, I couldn’t keep her safe. “I read the messages and I thought it’s fine, she’s safe, she’s in the hospital. “The next message was I’m out of hospital, they know I’m going to kill myself, I’m on my way to do it.” Ms Hildebrandt called police as a flood of text messages from Hailee grew more disturbing. But tragically the teenager, who loved the beach and football, was already dead when officers found her — only 20m from the State Government’s offices in West Perth. “She didn’t want to die. She told us all the time, she said, ‘I don’t want to die’, but she wanted them to take her seriously,” Ms Hildebrandt said. “She was crying out for somebody to find her on the way up there. The messages said, ‘I’m going to prove my point to the doctor’.” Hailee had texted her mum: “This doctor thinks I’m being funny. I’ll prove to him I’m not being funny.” While her death will be investigated by the coroner, Ms Hildebrandt is worried that it could take years. She wants a major overhaul of communication and discharge policy inside the 14-bed FSH unit that caters for mental health patients aged 16 to 24. Hailee had been an inpatient since October 2025. “That day we were told no, she was still an inpatient. Secondly, if she was discharged, then it’s poor discharge planning, because there was no medications ready,” Ms Hildebrandt said. “Part of me wants that ward shut down until it can run properly but then the other part of me, if that shuts down where do those 14 people go? “I want a full review of the system. I want those leave processes scrutinised. I want the one on one scrutinised. I just want them listened to. “You need to listen, even if 22 times before they’ve said that to you and haven’t followed through with it.” The South Metropolitan Health Review has launched an investigation, calling Hailee’s death “unexpected”. “South Metropolitan Health Service confirms that a full and thorough clinical review has commenced following the unexpected and tragic death of the patient,” a SMSH spokesperson said. “We extend our sincere and deepest condolences to the family and will continue to communicate with them throughout the clinical review.” The Health Department refused to answer questions about whether a care plan was in place when the 18-year-old was allowed to walk out of hospital. It was a key recommendation of the 2012 Bryan Stokes review of mental health: “No patient is to be discharged from an ED or another facility without an adequate care plan. “Where there is a carer clearly involved, the carer should be included in the discussion of the care plan and the discharge plan.” The department said only that all recommendations of the Stokes review were “complete” and that processes were constantly reviewed to improve patient care. Ms Hilderbrandt wants more and has vowed to speak out for the sake of other families. Her letter to Premier Roger Cook’s office went unanswered. A response was instead sent “on his behalf” by Health Minister Meredith Hammat, the day after The West Australian started asking questions. Ms Hammat offered “heartfelt condolences” and promised her concerns are being regarded “with the seriousness they deserve”. Hospital management met with Ms Hildebrandt and referred her to a grief counselling service — which was full. “Their books are closed,” Ms Hildebrandt said. “And it just goes to show how messed up the system really is.” Shadow health minister Libby Mettam has now taken up her fight for a wider, and urgent, review. “When a vulnerable young person, who had attempted suicide only days earlier, is granted day leave as an inpatient and then takes her own life, it inevitably shakes public confidence in how risk is being assessed and managed,” she said. “West Australians need assurance that clear clinical safeguards, appropriate supervision and adequate resourcing are in place to protect patients during their most vulnerable moments. “The Health Minister must commit to a full and transparent review of the circumstances surrounding the decision to grant leave and whether staffing pressures or systemic issues played a role. “ Hailee was studying mental health. She wanted to save others. “Her last message to her lecturer was I have purpose doing this course, I can’t wait to finish the course, I can help people,” Ms Hilderbrandt said. “I don’t want other families to lose loved ones to the system. If I can raise awareness for other families, then Hailee would have wanted this. “If she knew that her voice is still being heard, she’d (tell them) keep fighting, keep going. “My life will never, ever be the same.” Lifeline 13 11 14 Mental Health Emergency Response Line 1300 555 788