According to coroner Denver Snider, she had probably killed herself several days earlier. Snider is conducting an inquiry into Gale's death, partly to determine if it could have been prevented in any way. Smith, who says Gale's health deteriorated after she started going to mental health services, is asking for a formal public inquest into her friend's death, but Snider said that would be unusual in a case like this. It's like a jail cell with beds. Because St. Mary's does not provide psychiatric treatment, Room 101 is intended to safely keep patients who are a danger to themselves or others until they can be discharged or transferred to Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, where there is a psychiatric ward.
Most patients stay in the safe room only overnight.
But Lions Gate, which closed six beds in the last year, is often full. As a result, about four patients a year spend more than 24 hours in the safe room at St. Mary's while they wait for treatment. That's not something the hospital staff are happy with, said administrator Tess Orlando, but it's part of the overall shortage of health funding. One of those drawn to Tuesday's protest was Lee van der Heiden, a psychotherapist who specializes in disability counselling. She did not know Sarah personally, but was disturbed to learn of the circumstances of her death.