Shattered parents of woman, 19, who took her own life while studying to be a lawyer blast medical staff who saw her for nine weeks and NEVER referred her to a psychiatrist

  • The parents of a teenager who commit suicide have spoken out about treatment
  • They say staff neglected to assess or diagnose her in the weeks preceding
  • A coronial inquest confirmed a gross mistreatment of Di Lembo's symptoms

By Brittany Chain For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:42 EST, 3 December 2018 | Updated: 09:42 EST, 3 December 2018

The parents of a bright young woman who committed suicide after being denied correct medical assistance say their daughter was never even referred to a psychiatrist.

Sabrina Di Lembo, from Darwin, was only 19-years-old when she took her own life in August 2017 after trying to seek medical help for nine weeks. 

Ms Di Lembo's mother Lidia told 9News she was told to 'stop trying to be a doctor' when she tried to press medical staff for another result. 

Sabrina Di Lembo (pictured), from Darwin, was only 19-years-old when she took her own life in August 2017 after trying to seek medical help for nine weeks

Sabrina Di Lembo (pictured), from Darwin, was only 19-years-old when she took her own life in August 2017 after trying to seek medical help for nine weeks

A coronial inquest confirmed what Ms Di Lembo's parents say they already knew.

A gross mistreatment of Di Lembo's symptoms led to 'failure after failure of the Top End's mental health system.'

Ms Di Lembo, a law student, was suffering panic attacks and had 17 interactions with medical staff at Top End's facility.

In that time, she was never formally assessed or diagnosed, but did receive a referral for Dr Kara Britz.

Ms Di Lembo, a law student, was suffering panic attacks and had 17 interactions with medical staff at Top End's facility

Ms Di Lembo, a law student, was suffering panic attacks and had 17 interactions with medical staff at Top End's facility

Sabrina Di Lembo, from Darwin, was only 19-years-old when she took her own life in August 2017 after trying to seek medical help for nine weeks

Sabrina Di Lembo, from Darwin, was only 19-years-old when she took her own life in August 2017 after trying to seek medical help for nine weeks

Ms Di Lembo and her mother (pictured together) were never informed that the dose she had been taking was too small to have an effect, and decided against increasing medication

Ms Di Lembo and her mother (pictured together) were never informed that the dose she had been taking was too small to have an effect, and decided against increasing medication

Dr Britz worked at a facility, but technically still wasn't qualified - a crucial detail that Ms Di Lembo's parents said was of concern to them when they were made aware.

They later learned that Dr Britz had, in fact, failed her final exam nine times. 

She prescribed Ms Di Lembo an anti-anxiety medication, telling her to take 37.5mg a day, half the recommended dosage.

After trialing the medication and not noticing a change, Ms Di Lembo took herself off the pills, feeling disheartened and disenfranchised with the support she had received.

The parents of a bright young woman who committed suicide after being denied correct medical assistance say their daughter was never even referred to a psychiatrist

The parents of a bright young woman who committed suicide after being denied correct medical assistance say their daughter was never even referred to a psychiatrist

Dr Britz (pictured) worked at a facility, but technically still wasn't qualified - a crucial detail that Ms Di Lembo's parents said was of concern to them when they were made aware

Dr Britz (pictured) worked at a facility, but technically still wasn't qualified - a crucial detail that Ms Di Lembo's parents said was of concern to them when they were made aware

A psychiatrist from the facility who never agreed to meet with Ms Di Lembo or her mother was made aware of the situation in the weeks leading up to her death, and suggested her dosage be increased to the recommended amount without ever meeting the struggling teen.

They were never informed that the dose she had been taking was too small to have an effect, and decided against increasing medication.   

Ms Di Lembo's case with the facility was closed after she allegedly had a 'positive' phone call with a member of staff.

This, again, was done without a formal assessment.  

The coroner's findings are now expected to be referred to the Department of Health to respond to the recommendations. 

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Shattered parents of woman, 19, who took her own life were told to 'stop trying to be a doctor'

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