P.E.I. coroner's jury calls for changes in how people found not criminally responsible are treated

Warning: This communicative deals with suicide. If you oregon idiosyncratic you cognize has been struggling with intelligence health, you tin find resources for assistance astatine the bottommost of this story.

The six jurors who heard grounds successful the coroner's inquest into the decease of Colton Clarkin person returned with 12 recommendations aimed astatine preventing aboriginal deaths.

Their proposal was presented successful a Charlottetown courtroom Monday aft 3 days of grounds and respective hours of deliberation. 

"It's been a dense fewer days, emotional, with a batch of accusation that's been presented, particularly watching the Clarkins present attending each day," said Dr. Brandon Webber, P.E.I.'s main coroner, who presided implicit the inquest. 

"But I'm truly blessed with however we told the communicative of what happened to Colton implicit the play of his involuntary admission. And I deliberation it truly played retired with the assemblage and they were capable to marque immoderate bully recommendations from that."

Clarkin, 27, had been an involuntary diligent astatine Hillsborough Hospital successful Charlottetown for 10 months by the clip helium died by termination successful July 2023.

He fled from the grounds portion walking determination with his father, and his assemblage was recovered adjacent the Confederation Trail the adjacent day.

The recommendations see improving connection betwixt teams erstwhile a diligent changes a effect connected a termination screening tool.

The jurors besides recommended that patients who are considered formation risks not beryllium allowed to permission connected passes without capable supervision. 

The six jurors besides advised the state to put deals with forensic psychiatric hospitals successful different provinces to person them judge Island patients who person been recovered not criminally liable for offences. 

The inquest was told specified a installation would person amended tools for treating Clarkin than the Hillsborough Hospital had.

If you oregon idiosyncratic you cognize is struggling, here's wherever to get help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call oregon substance 988.
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.
• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour situation centre.
• This usher from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines however to speech astir termination with idiosyncratic you're disquieted about.