Probe into Sophie’s death must lead to real change .. and not just tick boxes Mum hopes fatal accident inquiry will ensure young people get help needed
We must ensure children get the care they need
RUTH MOSS ON INQUIRY INTO DAUGHTER’S SUICIDE
THE mum of a teenager who took her own life after looking at “suicide guides” has demanded the inquiry into the tragedy is not a “tick-box” exercise.
Sophie Parkinson was just 13 when she died at her home on the outskirts of Dundee in 2014.
Her mother, Ruth Moss, is set to be the lead witness at her fatal accident inquiry that is due to start next month.
She believes psychiatric teams in NHS Tayside could have done more to support her daughter in the years leading up to her death.
Speaking outside a preliminary hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday, Ruth said she hopes a “real difference” will be made to mental health provisions for young people.
She said: “My big fear is that this is just going to be a tick box exercise. I really hope, however, that it is not and that we get some very firm recommendations.
“We must ensure that children get the care they need and that there’s real quality behind those tick boxes.”
She added: “A lot will be discussed during the inquiry and I hope there are some strong recommendations that will really make a difference to the care of these children.”
Sophie was a second year pupil at the High School of Dundee when she died in March 2014 at her family’s home in Liff.
Before she died, she was said to have been chatting to adults online and looking at content relating to self-harm and suicide.
She first sought help from mental health services when she was seven.
The inquiry into her death will focus on whether the care she received from the NHS was good enough.
It is taking place after the Lord Advocate, Scotland’s most senior law officer, ruled it should be held as Sophie’s death gives rise to “serious public concern”.
Ruth has previously said that earlier suicide attempts by Sophie had been dismissed as “childish cries for help” and NHS Tayside’s CAHMS – Child and Adolescent Health Services – had not provided enough support to Sophie following these incidents.
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC, ordered a fresh preliminary hearing for two weeks’ time.