The coroner for Ontario’s eastern region has ordered an inquest into the death of Carleton student Jason Renato Simon who died by suicide in 2016.
An inquest is a legal inquiry looking into the events and facts surrounding the death of an individual where a jury makes recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths.
Coroner Louise McNaughton-Filion said the inquest comes in the wake of a recently completed police investigation surrounding Simon’s death.
“We completed the investigation and we said, ‘examining his death in a public venue and after looking at the circumstances, can we make recommendations that may prevent such a death in certain circumstances?” McNaughton-Filion said, “and the answer was yes.”
Simon’s mother Margit told the Charlatan that the third-year criminology student was in his off-campus apartment when he took his own life, adding he accessed multiple mental health services in the weeks preceding his death.
“We didn’t know Jason was so depressed because we lived in Windsor when he went to Carleton,” she said. “Nobody listened to him.”
Margit said Simon told her he was seeing a counsellor at Carleton who “he really liked,” adding she did not feel comfortable revealing their name.
“He trusted that person, they were on good terms and he was also seeking help at the clinic at the university,” she said.
Margit added Simon’s counsellors at Carleton have also been called as witnesses to the inquest.
Benoit-Antoine Bacon, Carleton’s president and vice-chancellor, said the inquest will allow Carleton to learn more about deaths such as Simon’s moving forward.
“We’re confident that we did everything that we could, but I think the focus should be on how the various institutions affiliated with this can learn going forward, in particular the resources between the university and the hospital,” he said.
“We do provide mental health services, but we’re not the mental health provider. We need the hospitals,” Bacon added. “For cases of this capacity, we don’t necessarily have the resources needed.”
Carleton media relations officer Steven Reid said the university is hoping to participate in the inquest.
“While the focus of the inquiry is not on Carleton, we believe Carleton can assist the inquest, especially to the extent that the jury considers any recommendations that relate to the specific experiences of emerging adults and university students,” Reid said in an email.
“Jason Simon was a valued member of Carleton University and his loss was felt deeply by many in the Carleton community.”
Margit said she hopes the inquest will make recommendations to help prevent similar deaths.
“We want to help people and families so it won’t happen to them. It’s not going to change anything for us, but it might help other people,” she said.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, that’s very important. If somebody doesn’t listen to you, go to the next one and then the next one—I know that’s hard, but speak up if you struggle,” Margit added.
The inquest will begin Jan. 22, 2019 in Ottawa’s City Hall. It is expected to last at least nine days, and will hear from 25 witnesses.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health contact:
Mental Health Crisis Line: 613-722-6914 (within Ottawa) and 1-866-996-0991 (outside Ottawa)
Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region 24-hour line: 613-238-3311
Youth Services Bureau 24/7 Crisis Line: 613-260-2360 or 1-877-377-7775 (toll free for eastern Ontario)
Photo by Jasmine Foong
