Family’s touching tribute after tragic suicide of mum, 22

Calls for mental illness to be taken seriously

The family of a much-loved mum with the “voice of an angel” have paid tribute to her after her sudden death, aged 22. Shannon Alleyne tragically took her own life at her home in Canterbury on November 7. Her heartbroken family are now urging others to speak out about mental illness, and are calling for the issue to be taken seriously. Shannon’s mum Wendy and sister Jessica remember her as “a very kind person who always had everyone’s best interests at heart”.

“Losing Shannon has made a massive impact on everyone’s life - friends and family,” they said.

They describe the former Chaucer Technology School pupil as a loving mum to her young son, and as being passionate about music. “Shannon had the voice of an angel,” said her family. “When she sang it was beautiful. “Everyone who knew Shannon knew she loved her music and expressed a lot through singing. She really did have an amazing voice.”

Shannon’s family say she “struggled for a long time” with her mental health.

On Friday, an inquest into her death heard that she had a history of self-harm. In 2019, she had been taken to hospital after jumping from a balcony, but had later denied this was an attempt on her life and told medics it was because she had been drinking. The hearing was told how, on November 7, Shannon had visited her dad’s house with her sister, Jessica.

That evening, she had returned to her home in Querns Road, Canterbury. Finding her mum sleeping on the sofa, she covered her up with a blanket.

But Wendy woke a short while later to the sound of Shannon’s little boy calling out for his mum.

Realising Shannon was not responding, Wendy went upstairs to check on her, but tragically found her unresponsive in the bathroom. Paramedics were unable to revive her, and Shannon was sadly pronounced dead at midnight.

Police said she had sent messages to two people, saying ‘I love you, I’m sorry’, and that a suicide a note had been found at her home.

In a statement read by the coroner, Eileen Sproson, police said Shannon’s family believed “lockdown and recent bereavement may have been factors” in her death, as Shannon had been deeply upset after losing her grandmother last August.

Miss Sproson recorded a conclusion of suicide. Speaking after the hearing, Shannon’s family said: “We don’t want Shannon to be remembered from the circumstances surrounding her death. “We want everyone to remember the person she was: funny, kind, and a joy to be around. “She’s a very brave girl who has shown courage and strength the only way she knew how. “We urge mental health to be taken more seriously - for more aggressive assessments into people’s struggles, and more services to be made aware for people to speak up.”

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.

Shannon Alleyne was a 22-year-old mum-of-one