‘I can’t do this anymore’ wrote tragic Bethan, 28
‘LOVING AND CARING’ WOMAN FOUND DEAD BY MUM
A “LOVING and caring” 28-year-old woman died after an ongoing battle with her mental health, an inquest has heard.
Bethan Smith was found hanged at her home on Hardwick Avenue, Newark. by her mum on April 30 last year.
Her mum went in to check on her at around 8am to make the terrible discovery, along with a note left by the front door which read: “I’m so sorry, I can’t do this anymore.”
Ambulance crews arrived and she was declared dead at 8.11am.
The inquest held at the Council House in Nottingham yesterday, was told that Bethan’s mental health had greatly suffered after the death of her grandmother shortly before she was found at the address.
The inquest was also told that Bethan, who had been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and had suffered with depression and anxiety for many years after an unpleasant experience at university.
Bethan worked as a receptionist at Barcode Warehouse before the pandemic, going on to work in sales at home due to Covid, and was described as a “loving and caring” person by her mum.
Her sister, who was heavily pregnant at the time of Bethan’s death, described her as a wonderful aunt to her niece.
A police report read out to the inquest stated: “She [Bethan] suffered with severe anxiety for a long time and had suffered from Crohn’s disease for a long time.”
Prior to her death, she had made multiple searches regarding suicide and had made direct contact with the Samaritans, telling them: “I don’t want to hurt my family, but it feels like life altogether is too much.”
Police found there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
The inquest was played phone recordings of conversations between Bethan and her GP at Newark’s Lombard Medical Centre, Dr Wathen, some of which took place just days before her death.
In four separate calls, Bethan admitted she was “really struggling”, said she had been feeling suicidal and complained of a rash that she believed was brought about by stress.
She was first recommended counselling, then referred to the crisis team, then had her medication increased and was prescribed steroids and antibiotics for the rash.
When told by Bethan’s mother that she had been “shaking uncontrollably” at her grandmother’s funeral, Dr Wathen told her this was a reasonable reaction to a family bereavement – something he went on to apologise for.
Dr Wathen said: “I think I would agree that my professionalism came across as rather cold.”
He continued: “I feel that I did come across as very matter of fact and overly professional. The use of more empathetic language is certainly something I can think about implementing in the future.”
He added that he was “very saddened” when he was told about Bethan’s death.
The inquest was also told that she had been in a “controlling” relationship at the start of lockdown. That relationship , ended in August 2020
Bethan’s mum told the inquest that her ex-partner had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and died on the same day as Bethan, April 30, at the St Barnabas’ Hospice in Lincoln.
It is not known for sure whether Bethan would have known this before her death, the inquest heard.
Her medical cause of death was given as hanging. A post-mortem report also found there was a large amount of alcohol in her system before her death.