POLICE INVESTIGATES AN INQUEST CASE FOLLOWING AN ALLEGED SUICIDE OF A MENTAL HEALTHCARE USER AT A PSYCHATRIC HOSPITAL
Police are investigating an inquest case following an incident in which a mental health care user allegedly committed suicide by habging himself inside one of the service duct at Hayani Psychatric Hospital. The deceased was admitted at the facility following a history of violence that includes attempts to murder some of his close family members. Following his admission, the department had hoped that he will be assisted to get better like many other mental health care users who get better and be reunited with their families after being rejected by families and communities. Unfortunately he passed on before he could be helped.
The deceased had been reported missing at the hospital since Tuesday, 24 January 2023, and an intense search was conducted throughout the week by the hospital and also the SAPS K9 unit. His family was immediately informed, and messages were circulated to the public in an endeavor to find him.
On Saturday the 29th of January, security personnel sensed a bad smell coming from one of the service duct passages. They broke down the door that was locked from inside, and that is when the deceased’s body was discovered having used a bed sheet to allegedly hang himself.
Police and Forensic Pathology were called to the scene, and the family was also notified. Psychologists have been dispatched to help the family deal with the loss of the loved one in such a manner. The department sent condolences to the family of the deceased.
