Mental patient takes own life at IMH
Posted: 24 November 2009 1904 hrs

	Photos  of

SINGAPORE : The State Coroner has recorded a verdict of suicide on a patient who was found hanging in a toilet cubicle at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) last August.

The 35-year-old patient, Chan Kum Yew, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and depression and had been in an out of the hospital since July last year.

The court heard that CCTV footage showed Chan leaving his bed at ward 33A at around 4.40am on August 9 and did not return.

Almost an hour passed before another patient spotted him hanging by his T-shirt in the cubicle located at the far end of the restroom.

The patient informed an assistant nurse who claimed he did not hear any commotion in the restroom prior to the discovery.

Chan had been hearing voices and had thoughts that someone wanted to harm him.

He also tried to hang himself on two occasions before his initial visit to IMH in July last year.

Chan was also frightened of strangers but denied having suicidal thoughts during an assessment. - CNA /ls