Witness Testimony

Angela Tabak testified regarding the death of her 21-year-old son, Kyle Quinton, whose mental health deteriorated during the COVID-19 period. Prior to 2020, he was living independently and working full-time despite a prior traumatic head injury that had left him vulnerable to anxiety and depression. After the onset of pandemic restrictions and widespread public messaging, she described a marked increase in his anxiety and fear of infection, leading him to reduce his work hours, eventually quit his job, and increasingly isolate at home.
In 2021, after struggling academically in an online college program, he sought professional help. He was referred to a psychiatrist who conducted consultations exclusively through telehealth. Kyle completed a lengthy mental health questionnaire and submitted it in advance of a scheduled follow-up appointment. According to his account, the psychiatrist did not have access to the submitted materials during the telehealth session and advised him to reschedule, resulting in a further delay before his next available appointment.
In September 2021, shortly before he was to return to in-person schooling, Kyle died by suicide. Tabak testified that he had contacted emergency services prior to his death and left personal letters for family members. She expressed concern that pandemic-related restrictions and the shift to remote psychiatric care compromised the standard of care for vulnerable individuals and contributed to worsening mental health outcomes during that period.