Probe into suicide teen that smiled at her mum before being hit by a car

Final moments of girl, 13, who jumped in front of car and killed herself after turning round to give a final smile to her mum will be investigated

  • The death of a 13-year-old girl will be investigated by WA’s chief psychiatrist 
  • Kate Savage tried to take her own life 10 times in just two months recently 
  • Her devastated mother Meron had to switch off her life support at the end of July
  •  Ms Savage said the mental health system in Perth failed her young daughter 

Kate Savage (pictured) suffered critical injuries after she walked in front of a car in Perth

The death of a 13-year-old girl who walked in front of a car after turning around and smiling at her mum will be investigated.

Kate Savage was on her way home from an appointment with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service when she tried to take her own life on Albany Highway in Perth on Juy 21.

The teenager suffered critical injuries and her mother Meron made the excruciating decision to turn off her life support the day later.

Ms Savage said her daughter seemed ‘really happy’ after the appointment and stopped at the highway to smile back at her parents and sister.  

‘She stopped at the kerb and turned around to look at us, smiled… and she hasn’t woken up since,’ Ms Savage told 9News. 

Kate had been hospitalised 10 separate times in the last two months alone for trying to take her own life.

Meron Savage made the excruciating decision to turn off her daughter Kate's life support

Meron Savage made the excruciating decision to turn off her daughter Kate’s life support

Each time, she was admitted into a ward for a few days before medical teams determined she was free to leave again.

Ms Savage believes the mental health system in Perth let her daughter down. 

‘She was so severely suicidal by then that she was trying to take her life all the time – anything, everything, constantly,’ she said. 

‘The crisis was never over. She would come home and she’d have another attempt.’

Western Australia’s chief psychiatrist will independently review Kate’s dealings with the state’s mental health system, WA Today reported.

The review will focus on the clinical care Kate received and how mental health services can be improved for young Australians, Health Minister Roger Cook said.

Mr Cook said the findings would be used for a broader Young People Priority Framework.

The framework, to be completed by the end of the year, would make recommendations for young people aged between 12 and 24 and provide an overview of available services.  

Pictured: Police on the scene. Kate was hit on Albany Highway in Perth

Pictured: Police on the scene. Kate was hit on Albany Highway in Perth

Ms Savage has vowed to fight for a change to the system in Kate’s honour following her death.

The family created a fundraiser to ease the financial burden of Kate’s funeral and future therapy.

‘Kate has succumbed to her long standing mental illness,’ Ms Savage wrote on the fundraiser.

‘She leaves behind a devastated sister, mother and father each with their own mental illnesses.

‘Any donations to help us get through this difficult time and help with funeral and therapy costs would be appreciated.’

Almost 130 people have donated in excess of $11,000 since the fundraiser began.

For confidential help please call Lifeline 13 11 14, BeyondBlue 1300 22 4636 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800



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