Coroner Demands Better Mental Health Support After Ex-Prisoner’s Suicide
A coroner’s report has called for urgent mental health support for long-term prisoners before and after their release. The recommendation follows the suicide of Lee Rawiri Kohiti, who took his own life just two months after leaving prison on parole. Kohiti had spent nearly 30 years behind bars for murder and struggled to adjust to life outside.
Kohiti was released in early 2023 after serving almost three decades. Within weeks, he expressed a wish to return to prison, feeling isolated and unsupported. His mother, his closest support, had recently died, and he received no visits from friends or family.
Coroner Bruce Hesketh highlighted the need for better mental health services for prisoners transitioning back into society. He urged authorities to provide support both before and after release. Professor Tracey McIntosh echoed these concerns, stressing that long-term inmates require more preparation for reintegration. Dr Emma Gardner, chief mental health and addictions officer for Corrections, confirmed that teams regularly assess inmates’ mental health risk. Probation officers also conduct wellbeing checks, but Kohiti’s case has raised questions about whether current measures are enough.
The coroner’s findings point to gaps in mental health support for prisoners leaving long-term detention. Kohiti’s death has prompted calls for stronger mental health services during and after incarceration. Authorities have yet to announce specific changes in response to the recommendations.
