‘Quiet personality’ Linden Kunoth died after being released from Alice Springs hospital mental health unit

MEDICOS at Alice Springs Hospital let a man suffering psychosis leave hospital for the day, during which he took his own life, when it was ‘entirely clear’ he should have been forced to stay at the mental health unit

Mental health patient Lindon Kunoth took his own life after he was granted day leave from Alice Springs Hospital. Picture: File

MEDICOS at Alice Springs Hospital let a man suffering psychosis leave hospital for the day, during which he took his own life, when it was “entirely clear” he should have been forced to stay at the mental health unit.

Territory Coroner Greg Cavanagh on Friday found “safety was not the first consideration” in granting leave to involuntary patient Linden Kunoth, 24, a “quiet personality” from Hart’s Range, who suddenly developed psychotic hallucinations in the months before his death.

An expert report prepared ahead of the September inquest into his death said it was “incomprehensible that Linden was discharged from his first mental health admission” in September 2017, after which he was re-admitted, and again released on leave before taking his own life.

“He was clearly actively psychotic … with little or no insight into his illness or need for treatment,” Dr Michael Giuffrida’s report said.

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Dr Giuffrida’s report said that before Mr Kunoth was re-admitted, his symptoms had “almost certainly … returned in full force together with his suicidal thoughts”.

Mr Kunoth was taken back to hospital when his father, who was “extremely attentive and caring” of his son, found him trying to kill himself “so that he could become the devil and kill sinners”.

Mr Kunoth’s suicide attempts continued in hospital but in October he was twice released for the day, even after telling doctors he was “an Aboriginal god”.

Mr Kunoth’s mother found him dead at home on the second day he was allowed out.

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The hospital at the time had no “approved procedures” for releasing involuntary mental health patients on leave despite the requirement for the hospital to have those procedures in place for 17 years.

Central Australia Mental Health Service acting clinical director Dr James Goodburn conceded at the inquest into Mr Kunoth’s death there were problems in assessing the risks mental health patients posed to themselves.

Mr Cavanagh said it was a “tragedy” that the hospital released Mr Kunoth to be escorted by his family on leave and did not make clear what it expected of them.

“It is a tragedy that his family were placed in that position,” Mr Cavanagh said.

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“It is a tragedy that their son took the opportunity to act upon his long held delusions and end his life.”

Mr Cavanagh said the mental health unit at the Alice Springs Hospital had made commendable improvements in the years since Mr Kunoth’s death.