Family of student who took own life demand school reforms

The devastated family of a Year 12 student who took his own life have renewed their push for mental health protocols to be mandated in WA schools.

Cohen Fink was 17 when he died by suicide in 2019, just three days after completing his midyear exams at Warnbro Community High School.

It was only after he died that his parents found out he had barely attempted his exams, instead spending most of the allotted time scribbling disturbing notes, random words, song lyrics and doodles on his papers.

His parents Pamella and Christian have called on the McGowan Government to enforce set guidelines on how all public schools must respond to student mental health concerns.

“There are so many ‘what ifs’ and that’s what consumes us,” Ms Fink told 9NEWS.

“On that day he drew pictures in that exam, and that exam was looked at at the end of the day and no one rang us to tell us anything about it.

“He was drowning and no one was throwing him a life preserver.”

The Finks also launched legal action against Education Minister Sue Ellery last year, claiming the public school Cohen attended failed in its duty of care.

It was believed to be the first case of its kind in WA, as the family claimed damages for the psychiatric injury, nervous shock and loss caused by his wrongful death.

In their calls for reform, the Finks said they believed if mental health guidelines had been followed Cohen may still be alive.

Former teacher Marks Cummins has joined the Fink family in their push for change, saying all schools need the guidelines mandated.

Mr Cummins said too many WA schools were either not following the mental health guidelines or only loosely enforcing them.

“What is probably most disturbing is that the McGowan Government provides significant funding to both Catholic Education WA and ASWA to make sure these guidelines are mandated in all catholic schools,” he said.

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