news Alberta should call inquiry into murder-suicide of father and autistic son

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Alberta should call inquiry into murder-suicide of father and autistic son



2 hours, 47 minutes ago

By The Canadian Press


EDMONTON - The Alberta NDP is calling on the Stelmach government to hold an inquiry into the murder-suicide of a man and his 11-year-old son who had autism.

Rachel Notley says questions have been raised about whether the deceased child's family received adequate help from the health-care system or through government funded community supports.

Karen Phillips, program director for the Autism Society of Edmonton Area, says the mother said her husband couldn't cope anymore with his son's situation and was worried his son wasn't going to get what he needed.

Police found the bodies of a 39-year-old man and his son in the basement of their Edmonton home on Sunday.

Philips said the government and community must step forward to offer parents of autistic children more support, especially for emergency relief.

Notley says the government has an obligation to care for seriously ill children and adults, regardless of whether they live in an institution or in the community.

She also expressed concern over recent changes to mental health legislation.

"The government is closing mental health beds and downloading the burden of care onto families that already have difficulty coping. "

"They're enhancing demand for mental health beds while at the same time cutting supply. It seems the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing."

Police say the causes of their deaths have not been released, at the request of the mother to protect her remaining young son.

Philips noted there are no emergency services for autistic people when parents lose control.

The 11-year-old spent 20 hours strapped to a hospital bed, screaming, said Phillips.

She said it was the breaking point - after 10 years of home care, the family sought to have their son sent out for care.