Nick Hill died by suicide in May 2020. His family is now calling for changes to the mental health system so that more people don't fall through the cracks(submitted photo/CHATNEWSToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Family urging change to mental health system after son dies by suicide

Nov 24, 2020 | 12:51 PM

MEDICINE HAT– A local family is calling for changes to the mental health system, after losing their loved one to suicide earlier this year.

Nicholas Hill was 27 years old when he died by suicide on May 5, 2020.

His struggles with his own mental health began five years ago.

“The way I look at it is I have the zero to 22 Nick and the 22 to 27 Nick, and the 22 to 27 Nick, he was not well,” Nicholas Hill’s mother Sandra said.

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Nicholas was diagnosed with a mental illness and spent three and a half years in and out of the hospital. He was put on a Community Treatment Order, which is intended to help monitor patients’ compliance with treatment while in the community.

“We did everything, everything imaginable for him,” Sandra Hill said tearfully.

(submitted photo/CHATNewsToday)

His family says there was one moment in July of 2019 where Nicholas’s hope began to diminish after he tried to admit himself to 5-North.

“ We get into 5-North and we didn’t even get to the nurse’s desk and we get to the security and he kind of asks, ‘what are you doing here?’, well I want in, and he says that’s not the process you need to go through the emergency and all this. Nick never said anything and you could tell he was a little frustrated,” Hill said.

Nicholas eventually went through Emergency, but his father says he was discharged 45 minutes later. The incident is one that his father describes as the day they lost their son.

“Here he was asking for help in his way and they had already discharged him. He was wanting in at that time and they put him back on the streets. When I finally found him on a bench on the hospital grounds, I walked up to him and he looked at me and said the system doesn’t even want to help me,” Hill said.

Through their son’s years of struggle and attempts to get help, his parents say they felt like their hands were tied because Nicholas was an adult. Incident after incident, they would be told that information regarding their son’s treatment or condition could not be shared with them due to privacy.

In March, roughly two months before Nicholas died by suicide, Nicholas attempted suicide and was hospitalized. When his parents requested more information into what happened they were told they could not have access because of confidentiality.

“There’s no involvement, whether you are a parent, sibling, a grandparent. We have no input. We have no communication. We have no talks with these people, and I understand the rights and everything but we are trying to help,” Doug Hill said.

In response, Alberta Health Services said in a statement to CHAT News:

“Due to patient privacy and confidentiality rules, we are unable to comment on a specific case. However, we are available to discuss any concerns or questions the family may have.”

The Hill’s believe that if they had more information into their son’s struggles they would have been able to support him better.

“He would talk to me, he would try to talk to me the best he could. He goes, ‘mom you understand right?’ You know, he knew that I would try to understand him. But if I could have been his guardian if I could have acted on his behalf, and been part of his treatment plan, part of his care, I think it really would have made a difference,” Sandra Hill said.

The local Canadian Mental Health Association says there are supports available for parents who are trying to help their adult children struggling with mental illness.

“ We actually have a support group called Caregiver Connection. So that would be great for caregivers who do have children or youth or, just any family member that is struggling with mental health and addictions,” said Michelle Deminick, an educator with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

On March 29, his parents say Nick was discharged from 5- North despite his parent’s pleas that he was not ready. He died almost a month later.

Now months after their son’s death, the Hill’s are calling for greater change to the mental health system so that families can have more input and information, even if the patient is an adult.

“I think the system failed him, I think the system failed us and I know we aren’t alone,” Hill said.

If you or someone you know is in crisis resources are available. In the case of an emergency dial 9-1-1. The Alberta Mental Health Help Line can be reached at 1-877-3030-2642. The Kids Help Phone can be reached at 1-800-668-6868.