Father Dies by Suicide in Hospital

He was a Dad, a Brother, a Grandfather, an Uncle and a Son.       Our loved one died due to lack of training and ignorance towards mental illness.       In Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, on June 21, 2013 our family lost an amazing man; Glenn Paul Piche, he was 49 years old.  Glenn died in the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital’s Psychiatric ward.  Glenn died by Suicide, he was found hanging in his hospital room.  Glenn was a father to four girls, a grandpa, a brother, husband and a son.       The reason we have started a Go Fund Me Page is for two reasons; 1. To bring awareness to people who still are unaware of mental illness’s.  A mental illness is known to be the invisible illness; people must stop concluding that if you “look” or you “act” like you’re okay, might not mean that’s how a person feels on the inside.  In 2016 there were 68 suicide attempts in Medicine Hat and 7 people were able to follow through. 2. To raise money towards our legal fees that we have acquired due to the fight against Alberta Health Services. Our Story       On June 19, 2013, Glenn was threatening to harm himself.  Glenn drove his truck to his storage locker in Redcliff, Alberta.  Marc (Glenn’s brother) called the RCMP and Glenn was apprehended and then taken to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital Emergency department.  Glenn was detained and was admitted to the psychiatric ward at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.  The hospital staff was informed from our family that Glenn could put on an act that he was fine. Glenn had done this on previous visits to the emergency department and they never caught on that he was very sick.  Our family thought that since we contacted and talked to the nurses in the psychiatric ward about Glenn’s mental health history, they would be informed of the situation and watch him carefully.   On June 20, 2013, Glenn was found in his hospital room hanging by a bed sheet.       Glenn’s wife Laurie Sherwood died by suicide one year and 3 months later.  She could not deal with the pain of losing her husband and just wanted to be with him.         The Medicine Hat Regional Hospital Psychiatric Ward is supposed to be a safe place, a place where there are professional well trained staff who can help a person in a crisis.  Our family thought that this was the best place for Glenn; where he would be protected and be safe.  A day and a half later he was gone.  Where was this so called “help”?  Where were all the trained “Professionals” at AHS?        On The Alberta Health Services Website: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/pf/pe/if-pf-pe-pfcc-resource-kit-ext-web.pdf It Clearly States: Quality listening reduces anxiety, improves satisfaction, and enhances The Art of Active Listening This practice has been endorsed by Patients Canada & the Alberta Health Services Patient & Family Advisory Group. Empathy is understanding, being aware of and sensitive to the feelings and emotions of your patients or a family member.    Respect can be shown by hearing the patient and allowing them to express their thought thoroughly without interruption. Presence is being attentive to the needs of a patient or family member and offering your whole self to be with them in that moment. Finding this article on the Alberta Health Services website is confusing because Glenn and our family were not treated with Empathy, Respect or Presence while Glenn was there.  It was far from that.       As a family, we have gone through a public fatality inquiry into Glenn’s death on May 2017. We heard witnesses claiming that they all did their job, yet on June 20, 2013, they found Glenn hanging in his hospital room.     The inquiry brought out many recommendations from the judge but AHS (Alberta Health Services) has still to take responsibility for the psychiatric ward’s negligence that led to Glenn’s passing. Our family hired a lawyer to bring this out in the open, otherwise Glenn would have been forgotten about.  Our family feels it is now our job to show Alberta Health Services that they cannot do this to the patients, and families of those affected.         The following comments are from each of his daughters:        My name is Trina Piche (34yrs); I am the oldest daughter of Glenn.  My son and I will never be the same since my father took his own life. There have been only questions and no answers.  Our number one question is “how”?  My three sisters, my son and I are looking for answers to get peace.  We are asking for your support to help get the answers to our questions.  We miss and love him every day. We thank you all for everyone’s support in advance.       My name is Melanie Bayer (30 yrs.), second oldest daughter of Glenn.  My dad had the biggest heart of anybody I have ever known.  He was loved by so many people.  No deed was too great for him.  From the biggest bear hug to having homeless people over for dinner.  It is no doubt that his purpose in life was to shine his light unto this world.  Unfortunately he was sick, he did not ask to be sick, nor did he make himself sick.  But when he was struggling and was in the only place in Medicine Hat we thought could help him, they didn’t.  A light has been taken away from this world.  We are now left with broken hearts and too many questions.  How is this possible?   When this was the only place in Medicine Hat that claimed they could keep him safe.  We don’t want another person or family to go through what we have and are still going through!  It’s too late for my dad, therefore we hope that in us pushing forward and not letting this go, another life will be saved!         My name is Trudi Piche (27yrs.), one of four daughters of Glenn Paul Piche.  My heart hurts every single day from the events that took place in June, 2013.  I lost my dad, and my hero.  He was one of the most genuine, loving, and beautiful persons’ I have ever seen.  His struggle combined with the lack of help provided to him at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, has become our worst nightmare.  It’s a nightmare that you never can wake up from.  Many of you know the pain of losing a loved one in a tragic way never fades.  If we can prevent this from happening to even one other person and their family, it is worth it.  Life after life is being taken due to lack of knowledge of mental illness and insufficient support to those in need.  We need your help and assistance to make a change.  Please share to help us spread awareness and push for change.  This needs to stop. There needs to be change.  People are not just another number as Alberta Health Services (AHS) seem to believe.  It’s a life.        My name is Kimberly Piche (24 yrs.).  At the age of 21, I received a phone call informing me that my dad, Glenn took his own life.  I have never felt so much pain in my life. This man was a person who loved me, a person who would carry me if I was too tired to walk, and always tried his best to make me laugh.  The Father, who gave me and my sister’s life, is now gone.  As much as it hurts, it hurts more knowing that it should never have happened.         Please help us in our fight against Alberta Health Services.  To prove to them that mental health illnesses have to be taken just as seriously as traditional illnesses or diseases.  From all of the Piche family, We Thank You for your taking your time to read this, for sharing this story, or for your donation.   https://justice.alberta.ca/programs_services/fatality/Documents/fatality-report-piche.pdf http://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2017/02/09/a-family-in-search-of-answers/ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/glenn-piche-medicine-hat-inquiry-1.4098228 https://globalnews.ca/news/3422088/alberta-government-to-hold-fatality-inquiry-in-medicine-hat-this-week/ http://chatnewstoday.ca/article/510798/video-family-glenn-piche-speaks-outside-courthouse-following-fatality-inquiry