String of suicides sparks law plea

Kayla Wright. Photo / Supplied

A coroner has called for urgent law changes after three young people took their own lives shortly after being released from care.

Rotorua coroner Wallace Bain yesterday released his report into the death of 17-year-old Kayla Wright in Tauranga in 2008.

Dr Bain noted "heartbreaking similarities" between Ms Wright's death and those of Laurence Otimi and Jeremy Brockbank.

"All three have been released after medical assessments ... despite the fact that it was as clear as day follows night that it was highly likely they would attempt to commit suicide.

"All three did. All three lost their lives. All three deaths in my view were unnecessary."

Ms Wright died after overdosing on prescription medicine she had stolen from a Tauranga half-way house, where she was sent following treatment at Tauranga Hospital.

She had been discharged from hospital after a mental health assessment found no grounds for compulsory treatment.

Dr Bain said that Ms Wright's release "simply defies common sense" given that "her history, her health conditions and her state of intentions were clear".

He has written to the Director of Mental Health asking for the definition of a mental disorder to be widened in regards to treatment.

"Any suggestion of an infringement of liberty and personal rights surely has to pale into the background against the primary focus of trying to keep a person well."

Ms Wright's family told the inquest they had relaxed their vigilance before her death because they assumed she would be kept in hospital.