My daughter took her life at 13 – and the NHS is to blame
THE mother of a teenage suicide victim is suing an NHS board, claiming the mental health care it offered her daughter was ‘hugely inadequate’.
Ruth Moss said her daughter Sophie Parkinson’s two suicide attempts were dismissed as ‘childish cries for help’ and she was denied in-patient care for her mental health problems.
The teenager went on to take her own life at her family home near Dundee, aged 13.
Mrs Moss, 46, says she is ‘absolutely sure’ her daughter would still be alive if NHS Tayside had provided appropriate medical care. Sophie had been referred to NHS Tayside’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services when she was eight for help with behavioural problems and self-esteem issues.
But Mrs Moss said her problems grew worse as she got older. The research nurse, who now lives in Edinburgh, told the BBC: ‘I hold NHS Tayside responsible for Sophie’s death. It’s made me angry, upset, hurt – a whole barrage of feelings.’
Mrs Moss claims Sophie was deemed unsuitable for inpatient care despite repeated requests. She said: ‘I actually approached her psychologist and said Sophie needs to be admitted. The feeling I was left with was she wasn’t bad enough.
‘I came out feeling Sophie was let down by a service that didn’t take her seriously and didn’t take me seriously.’
The former Dundee High School pupil was found hanged at the family home in Liff, Angus, in March 2014.
Mrs Moss also said the internal investigation following Sophie’s death was inadequate: ‘It was not robust and rigorous in my view.’
An independent inquiry has been launched into NHS Tayside’s mental health services.
The Lost Souls of Dundee campaign group claims at least ten suicides could have been prevented had better help been available.
An NHS Tayside spokesman said: ‘As this is a legal matter we are unable to comment. Every suicide is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the family.’
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local branch. See www. samaritans.org for details.
‘They did not take her seriously’