Coroner to investigate Courtney Grace Morison’s death just hours after discharge from Townsville University Hospital mental health unit

A coronial investigation will be launched into the death of a woman hours after being discharged from Townsville Hospital as her mother claims the facility is now in “damage control”.

Courtney Morison took her own life in October 2022 at 22 years of age. Source: Supplied.

A coronial investigation will probe the care a young Queensland woman received at a Townsville hospital, after she died just hours after being discharged from a mental health unit in October.

Courtney Grace Morison died on October 11, 2022, a day after the 22-year-old had been released from Townsville University Hospital’s mental health unit. Her family says it was suicide.

Her family says she was told by staff to go home after self-harming and took her own life just hours after being discharged yet again.

Courtney’s mother, Anne Le Pla, said she received an email from the Coroners Court of Queensland on May 10.

“Upon consideration of the circumstances of Courtney’s death and advice about the medical cause of death from the pathologist, the Coroner has directed the administrative management of Courtney’s coronial investigation be transferred to me for case management,” the email read.

The 22-year-old had been released from Townsville University Hospital’s mental health unit just hours before she died by suicide.

“My role is to assist the Coroner investigate Courtney’s death by seeking any relevant material and/or expert advice in order to make findings about Courtney’s death.

“ … Should you have any concerns about Courtney’s death that you have not already submitted, please provide those to me in writing and I will inform the Coroner.

“At this stage the Coroner is awaiting further information from external agencies.

“I advise the coronial investigative process can be a protracted one and the Coroner is aware that any apparent delays can cause distress to families.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes said: “Previously I publicly committed to a comprehensive clinical review looking at the care Ms Morison received at our health service”.

“Findings from this review will determine if there are any learnings or actions.

“I can confirm this process is underway and that the results will be provided to the Coroner once finalised.

“Ms Morison’s death was referred to the Coroner at the time and as is standard practice, Townsville Hospital and Health Service will assist the Coroner with any related inquiries.”

Courtney Morison posted a status to Facebook detailing how Townsville University Hospital didn't take her mental health problems seriously.

Mrs Le Pla previously told The Courier-Mail that she found it hard to fathom how her daughter was released from what was meant to be a safe place.

“If somebody goes in there twice in a row trying to take their own life, you would think that would mean something was wrong,” she said.

This is the second incident which has thrust the care at Townsville University Hospital into the spotlight in recent weeks, in wake of veteran Steven Angus being released from the ward just hours before he was shot dead by police on April 21.

Mrs Le Pla claims the coronial investigation will probe the care Courtney received at Townsville University Hospital after a pathology report found a “high reading of medication” in her daughter’s system and why her daughter was released after an earlier suicide attempt.

“They section you for nothing, so why can’t they section you for that? … I think that’s something that really needs to be looked at and changed,” she said.

Mrs Le Pla said she had not received any correspondence from TUH as she believes they are now in “damage control”.

Anne and Gene Le Pla, Courtney Morison’s mother and stepfather. Photo: Daryl Wright

“I don’t want to blame anybody but I want to change the system so that it doesn’t happen to somebody else,” she said.

Courtney shared a heartbreaking status to her Facebook page about how she felt the hospital repeatedly didn’t take her health seriously.

“How do you deal with being told it’s behavioural all (the) time from the hospital …” she wrote.

“I’m diagnosed with bipolar as well and haven’t been doing well, everyone around can see something is clearly wrong but they won’t help me cause (sic) it’s behavioural apparently.”

On October 9, two days before Courtney died, her family says she tried to take her own life and was taken to hospital.

They took her in, but she was released the next day.

On October 10, she tried to take her own life again. The hospital took her in late at night, but she was released within hours.

Courtney died the next morning.