Family considering suing WA hospital over teen's treatment

The family of a 13-year-old girl who lost her battle with mental illness continues to search for answers almost one year on from the tragedy.

The Child and Adolescent Health Service failing to hand over Kate Savage's medical records despite the family formally requesting it five months ago.

"They haven't responded to any of our questions. We still haven't got any real information from the hospital," Kate's mother, Meron Savage, told 9News.

Ms Savage says Perth Children's Hospital treated her daughter's illness as attention-seeking behaviour, with graphic sketches about how the teen might take her life ignored.

"They knew what she was thinking and planning," Ms Savage said.

"They just didn't believe that she really meant it.

"Each time they were going to send her home she said 'no, I'm going to die'."

The family is now considering taking legal action against the hospital.

But that depends on what the medical records expose.

Ms Savage says the fraction of documents that have been released so far have been heavily redacted.

"As much information as we can provide to the family as quickly as we can within the law, I have advised that that's what we should do," WA Premier Mark McGowan said.

A report from the state's chief psychiatrist last year found an under-resourced mental health system failed the teenager.

"We are just treading water. Barely," Ms Savage said.

"It's very hard."

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