Fatality inquiry probes Villa Caritas suicide

An elderly man who killed himself at an Edmonton psychiatric facility seemed to be doing well in the days leading up to his death, a fatality inquiry heard Friday.

When Arnold Barstad, 90, was admitted to the Villa Caritas in February 2011, he was depressed and suicidal.

Barstad’s doctor testified that, after a couple weeks of treatment, he seemed to be doing better.

She told the inquiry that, on the last day of his life, Barstad "was brighter. He was smiling more."

That night, the man used a belt from his bathrobe to hang himself from a towel bar.

When the Villa Caritas facility opened in January 2011, some raised concerns about potential suicide hazards in the facility, which is used to house elderly psychiatric patients.

A number of policy changes were made last month in the response to Barstad’s death, the inquiry was told.