Redland Hospital faces suicide claim

Christopher Ball died on September 14 after losing his battle with depression.

Days before, on September 3, his mum, Kerrie Keepa, had rushed him to the hospital's emergency department after a failed suicide attempt.

But she said the pair was turned away because staff believed her son, who had been an inpatient in the hospital's Yugaipa mental health ward, was "attention-seeking".

Ms Keepa, 50, a nurse who lives in Capalaba, said her family and son's friends had kept Christopher on a suicide watch and blamed the hospital's lack of empathy and beds for his death.

"Families are just being left to deal with it on their own," she said.

"Mental Health's (Queensland) incompetence has cost my son his life and has left all of his family and friends totally devastated.

"Mental health has got out of hand and the hospitals can't deal with it any more. It's like it's become too hard."

But the hospital said "there were no bed shortages relating to this case".

A hospital spokesman said he could not speak about patients' conditions or history, details which were subjected to strict confidentiality laws.

"Any matter that results with a loss of life is subject to strict reviews and are referred to the coroner."

Ms Keepa has set up a Facebook page, called SOS Fast, where survivors of suicide and their families can go for help.

The page has 24,000 "likes".

She has also organised a barbecue for suicide survivors and their families at Raby Bay Park on Masthead Drive, on Saturday, November 29, from 11am.

o For general health information, referral and teletriage services call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for the cost of a local call. Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636 can help with mental health issues.