Mum of five repeatedly begged for medication in custody, inquest hears

First Nations mother repeatedly begged for medication in custody, inquest hears In short: A First Nations mother of five repeatedly begged for her medications in custody and was discharged from hospital after a suicide attempt without a mental health review, a coronial inquest heard today. The inquest will examine whether the 29-year-old woman received the same standard of healthcare as she would in the community and whether her suicide risk was managed appropriately. What's next? The inquest continues until Friday. A First Nations woman reported suicidal thoughts and repeatedly complained she was not receiving her usual mental health medications in the weeks before her death, a coronial inquest has heard. The 29-year-old woman was also sent to Westmead Hospital after a suicide attempt, the inquest heard, but was treated only for her physical injuries and did not receive a referral to the mental health team. She took her life 11 days later. This story contains the first name of a First Nations person who has died. The court heard the woman, known as Monique, was a mum-of-five and a much-loved sister and daughter. Her mother and aunty attended the first day of the inquest wearing shirts bearing Monique's face and her artwork. Deputy coroner Joan Baptie will examine whether Monique received the same standard of healthcare available in the community, whether her suicide risk and the service of an apprehended violence order was managed appropriately, and the suitability of the cell conditions where she died. Mental healthcare in prisons under the microscope Counsel assisting Ragni Mathur SC described Monique's life as one filled with challenges of intergenerational trauma, childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence. When she entered custody on December 12, 2024, the court heard she was taking medications for sleep, chronic pain, anxiety and depression. Within days, Monique was reporting suicidal thoughts, saying she was not coping in prison and describing voices telling her to harm herself or others. The court heard she made repeated requests to access her usual mental health medication, and her community health records were requested but not delivered. Equivalent standard of mental healthcare The inquest heard Monique was taken to Westmead Hospital after a suicide attempt, where she reported she had been experiencing auditory hallucinations and feared the delays in obtaining her medication were making her worse. She was treated in hospital only for her physical injuries, the court heard, and was not referred to the local hospital mental health team or prescribed any psychotropic medications. The court heard it was standard practice for the hospital to only treat prisoners for their physical injuries after a self-harm attempt, with ongoing mental health care left to Justice Health. Patients from the community, on the other hand, were referred to the hospital's mental health team. Ms Mather said Monique was never seen by a consultant psychiatrist or the suicide outreach team during her three weeks in custody. The inquest also heard evidence of staffing pressures within the prison, including an officer's journal entry describing a wing in "total chaos" with "too many mental health inmates", no psychologist assigned to the unit and correctional officers being expected to perform psychological duties. The court also heard only one member of the suicide outreach team was rostered throughout the Christmas and New Year period. Cell conditions not equipped for mentally ill prisoners The inquest will examine whether the prison environment is appropriate for someone presenting with significant mental health needs and repeated suicide risk. The court heard Monique requested a cellmate and it was recommended she be placed in group cell accommodation. This was never implemented because she was put in segregation after an attempted escape at hospital. Loading...She died alone in her cell two days before an order to end her segregation was due to take effect. Counsel assisting questioned why someone with Monique's mental health history was housed in a cell with ligature points and an outdoor area without CCTV and which was difficult for officers to observe. The court also heard Monique was served an apprehended violence order hours before her death, raising questions about what welfare protocols should be in place when inmates receive legal documents likely to cause significant distress. The inquest will return to Lidcombe Coroners Court on Tuesday.