Fiona Stanley Hospital Review Exposes Mental Health Bed Shortage After Teen’s Death

A Perth teenager died by suicide hours after Fiona Stanley Hospital discharged her on 13 January 2026, despite a self-harm attempt and explicit suicide threats just 25 minutes before release. A SAC1 investigation released this week found the hospital lacked adequate youth mental health beds and failed basic safety protocols. Hailee Hildebrandt’s mother, Stacey, was removed as next of kin without notification and never contacted about the discharge. The report has triggered calls for urgent mental health reform across Western Australia.

What the investigation found

The SAC1 report exposed a pattern of missed warning signs. Hailee made an explicit threat and attempted self-harm, triggering a code black alarm only 25 minutes before staff allowed her to leave. Clinical notes described her as at chronic risk of self-harm and suicide. The report stated a lack of youth mental health facilities contributed to discharge delays, yet staff continued overnight leave as part of her discharge plan despite repeated self-harm. Hailee left without prescribed medication, personal belongings, or any family contact. Two hours later, her body was found in Kings Park. She had told nursing staff she believed the hospital wanted her to leave.

Failures in care and communication

Stacey Hildebrandt was removed as next of kin without her knowledge. Hospital staff did not contact her when Hailee asked them to collect her belongings, citing no phone number on file. Yet staff had previously contacted Stacey and should have retained her details. After discharge, Hailee sent distressing text messages saying she would kill herself. Stacey called police, who traced her phone and found her unresponsive. The treating team dismissed Hailee’s repeated self-harm as an established pattern of distress, treating her request to leave as genuine despite the crisis indicators.

System-wide bed shortage acknowledged

The report exposed a lack of accessible mental health support and bed shortages across Perth’s mental health system. South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) operates Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Mental Health and Peel and Rockingham Kwinana Mental Health services across the region. SMHS has accepted all 21 recommendations in the report. The service plans to open a new three-storey facility at Fremantle Hospital with an additional 40 mental health beds and a 24-hour Mental Health Crisis Centre, though no completion date has been announced.

Mother’s push for change and second investigation

Stacey Hildebrandt told 102.5 ABC Perth Radio: I cannot figure out how they couldn’t recognise the crisis she was in and still let her go. She has called for urgent improvements to mental health services and questioned how her daughter could remove her as next of kin while so unwell. Stacey believes she was robbed of a chance to save Hailee and wants a new SAC1 report. A second investigation has been ordered following the family’s claims. They had not been given a chance to safety plan for their daughter or take her into their care.

Final Thoughts

The Fiona Stanley Hospital case exposes critical gaps in Western Australia’s mental health system: insufficient beds, poor discharge protocols, and communication failures that cost a teenager her life. SMHS acceptance of 21 recommendations signals change, but Stacey Hildebrandt’s push for a second investigation reflects deeper systemic failures that demand urgent reform.

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