Finding into death of Ms MH

Contributing factors

• History of suicidality with no prior mental health treatment
• Financial dependence and unemployment
• Impending divorce
• Social isolation in new country
• Lack of cultural support services
• Family pressures and relationship tensions
• Language and cultural barriers to accessing services

Coroner's recommendations

1. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services review current services supporting health and wellbeing of South Asian women in the City of Whittlesea, and consult with relevant service providers and stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve South Asian women's access to and engagement with such services
2. Victoria Police allocate Family Violence Investigation Units to investigations into suspected intentional deaths of women in the City of Whittlesea who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, in circumstances where there is any indication that previous family violence incidents may have contributed to the death
3. Victoria Police allocate Family Violence Investigation Units to investigations into suspected intentional deaths of women in the City of Whittlesea who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, in circumstances where there is any indication that social isolation may have contributed to the death