Lessons must be learned from tragic girl’s suicide
• Inquest hears of teen’s mental health struggle • Treatment delay after she ‘misinterpreted’ care plan
AN ‘articulate, bright and witty’ teenage girl took her own life shortly after leaving a college lesson, an inquest has heard.
Rachel Collins, 17, a student at Haslingden High School Sixth Form, died shortly after 1pm on October 14 last year on the A56 close to Haslingden Tesco.
The cause of death was given as head injuries consistent with a fall from height.
A hearing at Burnley Magistrates’ Court heard that Rachel, of Bury Road, Rawtenstall, had a history of mental health issues, had been assessed by mental health services six weeks previously and it had been recommended that she be prescribed anti-depressants.
However, she had misinterpreted her care plan, which was only given to her verbally, and she wrongly believed her GP would contact her to prescribe the drugs, when in fact it was incumbent on her to make an appointment with her doctor.
The hearing heard from Rachelle Smith, team leader in specialist triage at Lancashire Care Foundation Health Trust.
She said she had first been referred to the service in 2018 after suffering from ‘low mood, anxiety and lack of self esteem’, when a plan was devised during an over-the-phone assessment for her to continue therapy sessions.
She was again referred on August 28, 2019, when a consultant recommended a course of antidepressants and wrote to her GP informing them of this. During a face-to-face follow up appointment on October 9 last year it became clear that she had not received the prescription as she had not booked an appointment with her GP. Miss Smith said that during all her contacts with the trust Rachel had said she did not have ideas of self-harm or taking her own life.
Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor said that Rachel had not been given any documentation about her care plan by the mental health practitioner.
Speaking to Miss Smith, he said: “It might help if this sort of information was put in black and white in the form of an email or a letter.”
When the coroner asked Miss Smith if ‘lessons could be learned from this case?’ she replied ‘yes, definitely’.
Rachel’s father Sean Collins addressed the court, describing his daughter as ‘articulate, bright and funny’.
He said: “She could have been on the medication for six weeks. We just don’t want this to happen to any other little girl or any other family.”
Rachel’s mother Melanie Wilson said: “At no point did she think it was for her to contact her GP.”
She added that when she realised that it was up her to make a GP appointment after the follow up meeting she had done so.
The court heard from Detective Inspector Vicky Kane who investigated Rachel’s death.
She said the teenager had been in a German lesson at Haslingden Sixth Form and had left the premises at 1.02pm at the lunch break. She told the court that Rachel had been ‘quiet and withdrawn’ in class but none of her fellow students or teachers had seen any cause for alarm.
DI Kane said a witness had seen Rachel firstly on Broadway and that there was no indication of any third party involvement in her death.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, Mr Taylor said: “This was not pre-meditated. There did not seem to be any difference in her that day. It was likely a decision made that day when she could not cope and became overwhelmed.”
Most people who are thinking of taking their own life have shown warning signs beforehand. These can include becoming depressed, showing sudden changes in behaviour, talking about wanting to die and feelings of hopelessness.
These feelings do improve and can be treated. If you are concerned about someone, or need help yourself, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123.