‘Brilliant’ father took his own life
THE mother of a “brilliant dad” who killed himself minutes after playing and dancing with his six-month-old son has called on others to ask how their male relatives are.
Ricky Brand died aged 21 on July 7, 2019, weeks after two of his friends also died, his mum, Toni Brand, said.
Mr Brand was pronounced dead by paramedics at 11.05am at his home in Park View, Bargoed, after hanging himself in his bedroom.
An inquest at Newport Coroner’s Court yesterday heard that emergency services arrived at the scene quickly just before 10.30am after Mr Brand’s partner called the ambulance service and cut him down. Despite extensive efforts to resuscitate Mr Brand paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Pathologist Dr Ian Thompson said he found no evidence of external injury other than ligature marks and no evidence of third-party involvement. He advised the medical cause of death to be recorded as 1a. asphyxia caused by 1b. hanging.
Notes from Mr Brand’s GP surgery confirmed he had begun to seek help for anxiety and paranoia with appointments attended at the surgery in May and June of 2019. The GP was clear Mr Brand had attended in the hope he would be diagnosed formally with a mental health condition.
Further notes confirmed he had expressed feeling suicidal before but had said he was motivated to stay alive for the sake of his baby son.
While he declined counselling he had been due to see a specialist mental health nurse within the north Caerphilly community mental health team 12 days after his death.
Senior coroner for Gwent Caroline Saunders said she was satisfied Mr
Brand’s GP surgery was treating him appropriately as at the time of those appointments there was “not an urgent requirement for referral” to the specialist team.
“In taking the actions he did, on balance, Ricky intended to take his own life,” Ms Saunders said. She recorded a formal conclusion of suicide.
Speaking after the inquest, his mother, Toni Brand, said two of her son’s friends had also died shortly before his death.
“It’s two years and we still feel so sad – we feel lost,” she said. “How could my son take himself upstairs and do that? Minutes before he had been doing the ‘nappy dance’, which was a dance he always did with his son. I can’t get my head around it.
“I am now passionate about helping men to deal with their mental health issues. My children probably think I’m smothering them but I’m scared. It’s so important as mums we ask our boys if they have issues at school or work and keep asking our boys to share their feelings.
“I would never have imagined he would have killed himself. He had so much to live for. I tell my children every day how much I love them.”
For confidential support the Samaritans can be contacted for free around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123.