Parents' plea after medical student, 19, took her own life 'out of the blue'
The death of a 19-year-old woman who was studying law should have been avoided and there were gaps in mental health services in the Northern Territory, her parents say.
An inquest has begun into Sabrina Di Lembo’s death, after she took her own life the night before she was due to go to the Darwin Cup with friends in August, last year.
Two Darwin doctors have been criticised at a coronial inquest over the care they provided to her.
Ms Di Lembo had won two scholarships and was achieving high marks at university but began suffering depression and anxiety including regular daily panic attacks ahead of her exams in May 2017.
“Sabrina was just a normal 19-year-old girl just striving to do well in life,” her mother Lidia said alongside her husband Michael outside Darwin local court on Tuesday.
“She was very happy to be such a high achiever, we were so proud of her.
“What happened to her was out of the blue, it really just rocked her world and turned our world upside down as well with what happened in the end.
“We hope it (the inquest) provides an opportunity for changes to be made… (to) ensure the safety of young people with mental health issues in the future and make sure no other family has to have a similar experience.”
Counsel assisting the coroner Kelvin Currie questioned GPs Dr Kara Britz and Dr Bernard Westley from Darwin’s Tristar Clinic about a lack of medical notes on Ms Di Lembo despite numerous consultations.
Communication between a psychologist she saw and her doctors was only via email.
Dr Britz told the inquest she preferred a more “informal approach” with patients than “ticking boxes”.
She prescribed 37.5mg of the antidepressant efexor, which was half the standard amount, which Ms Di Lembo later stopped taking before her death.
Her colleague Dr Bernard Westley discouraged Ms Di Lembo from seeing a specialist, saying “if you have got $700 an hour I can give you the name of a psychiatrist in Palmerston”.
“She was engaging resources, appeared stable, had protective, supportive mechanisms in place and a clear treatment plan,” Dr Westley said.
The NT has Australia’s highest rate of suicide.
For support and information about suicide prevention, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
