Province may investigate rise insuicides at hospital A dramatic increase in suicides Psychiatric 1976 to date than it has, I think, in any previous year in its "I haven't as yet found if there is an assignable cause". Hospital over the vast vear mnav rPeii1t ina nrovinciil 1 nrrý government investigation. Any such investigation into the increase in suicides at the hospital from two in 1975 to 10 so far this year would attempt to determine whether there is an assignable cause such as lack of supervision, change in treatment methods, greater freedom for patients or whatever, according to Minister of Health Frank Miller. Responding to questions in the house from Durham West MPP Dr. Charles Godfrey on Monday, Mr. Miller said "Whitby had a higher number of suicides in the year rustor . "The total number of suicides though, within the institutions of the province, has not varied significantly when compared with those outside", he said. "There has been a gradual increase both inside and outside of institutions and I would say there is more variation between institutions, or among them at least, than there is in the total". To date this year, there have been 24 suicides in the province's psychiatric hospitals. "We are of course looking into the reasons as to why that particular institution (Whitby Psychiatric Hospital) should have changed its relative position", said Mr. Miller. Following is a list of what Durham Regional Police believe were suicides this year by people who were resident patients, non-resident patients or former patients of Whitby Psychiatric Hospital at the time of their deaths: One resident patient died of suffocation after tying a cellophane bag over his head; one resident patient died of injuries sustained in an accident while driving a car stolen from the hospital grounds; three resident patients and one ex-patient hanged themselves; two resident patients and one ex-patient drowned; one ex-patient shot himself through the head on a downtown Whitby street. pc eoft wiyTo) ~Ii Vol. 6, No. 48 Wednesday, December 1, 1976 28 Pages INSIDE EDITORIALS.................................. COLUM NS...................................... COMING EVENTS............. BUSINESS........................... SPORTS......... ............ ENTERTAINMENT........................ REAL ESTATE................... MUNICIPAL p ELECTION TO BE HELD MONDA If the large turnout of voters at the advance poli in Whitby this past Saturday is any indication, there could well be a record number of people cast their ballots on civic election day Monday, December 6. A total of 234 people. voted at the advance poli Saturday, compared with 147 in the last full-fledged civ- ic election in 1973. Saturday's turnout was the heaviest at advance polls in many years, according to Returning Officer Bill Wallace. Apparently, many people felt they knew enough about the candidates and their stands on the issues to vote on Saturday. To those people we say "Congratulations" for sifting the long list of candidates and deciding which ones should serve on local council, regional council and the two school boards. For those of you who need a quick refresher, following is a list of the candidates and the bodies to which they are seeking election. There are two contenders for the office of mayor. Jim Gartshore, the incumbent, and Dr. Ken Hobbs. Three are vying for the two regional council seats - Gerry Ernm, the incumbent, John Goodwin and Joy Thompson. For the Centre Ward local council seat, there are three contenders - Tom Edwards, the incumbent, Roger Fannon and Vernon MacCarl. Three are contending the East Ward se:at - Joe Drumm, Ron Treleaven and Bob White. There are two vying for the North Ward seat -Bob Carson, the incumbent, and Jack Woodward. For the West Ward seat, there are three contenders - Bob Attersley, Joe Bugelli and Bob Cawker. Eight candidates are contesting the two scats froni Whitby oi the Durham Board of Education. They are Beverly Bicknell, Ken Brown, John Buchanan, Aline Currier, Mel Pelt, David Sims, Jim Speers and FrankSugden. Three candidates are seeking the two seats for Whitby, Brock and Scugog on the Durharn Region Roman Catholic Separate S-hool Board. They are Lou Goverde, Andy Miller and Chuck Roche. There are two contenders for the separate school representative on the Durham Board of Education John D'Costa and Gerry Noonan. See ELECTION 1976 Pages lOto1 Election Assistant John Frost hands out ballots to voters 147 in the last major election in 1973. The poils are open at the advance poli for Monday's municipal election, held Monday from il a.m. to 8 p.m. for the election of mayor, at the town hall last Saturday. Interest in the election reglonal and local councillors and school board trustees. appears to be high, for a record number of people cast Free Press Photo their votes at the advance poll--234 voters, compared to by Brian Winter PAGE 4 PAGE 5 TO 7 PAGE 17 PAGE 19 PAGE 21 PAGE 25 PAGE 26