NORTH BATTLEFORD – The five-person jury from an inquest into the death of Jilissa Nighttraveller recommends that the Battlefords Union Hospital have a designated area for suicidal people and a full-time psychiatrist – not on call – on every night.
Nighttraveller was found unresponsive in a bathroom at the hospital on March 24, 2021. Hospital staff responded and lifesaving attempts were made, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and she was pronounced deceased. Nighttraveller had been transferred to the Battleford Union Hospital the same day by the North Battleford RCMP.
The inquest that ran from July 24 to 26 in North Battleford with Coroner Robert Kennedy presiding, also recommended that the hospital remove anything in its bathrooms, such as bathroom stall coat hangers, that could be used during a suicide. The inquest ruled Nighttraveller's death was caused from asphyxiation from suicide.
The hospital should also have more support systems on at nights for the nurses, such as a social worker on call and triage nurse duties should be divided between two nurses at the front desk.
The jury recommended that the RCMP keep anyone – who is suicidal or mentally distressed – in custody until a mental health assessor can assess the person, unless the person needs immediate medical attention.
When the RCMP transfer suicidal or mentally distressed people, none of the person’s clothing or belongings deemed dangerous to his or her health and safety should be returned until it’s safe to do so.
The RCMP should also provide proper clothing for weather conditions when they transfer someone to a medical facility.
The jury also said that the RCMP staff should have quarterly exercises for CPR/First Aid to ensure personnel know what to do in an emergency. They should also call a family member to come to the detachment cells to help calm the person down.
The Police and Crisis Team (PACT) should be available 24-hours a day to help the RCMP with suicidal and mentally distressed people, recommended the jury.
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