Parents weren’t told of son’s suicide risk ‘ because of privacy’
The distraught parents of a student who took his own life revealed yesterday that a GP said no one told them their son was at risk because of ‘data protection’.
henry Curtis-Williams, 21, was detained by police under the Mental health act and seen by psychiatrists after he was found on a bridge notorious for suicides.
The London College of Fashion undergraduate visited his doctor five days later, who was so concerned for his welfare that she contacted an emergency mental health crisis team. he was not seen immediately, however, and no one had told his family about the risk he posed to himself. The following day, henry killed himself.
his parents, from ipswich, were only made aware of their son’s difficulties after his GP sent them a card of condolence.
The student’s father Stuart Curtis, 53, said: ‘i was so upset when i spoke to the GP. i asked her why we had not been told and she mentioned something about data protection. i said, “What’s that all about? i now have a dead son”.
‘henry’s mother and i are distraught about his death and the circumstances. The level of grief is insurmountable knowing that we could have helped him, had we known.
‘if it was an elderly person found in a vulnerable situation then surely the family would have been contacted immediately. Why is it that mental health policies and procedures for young people are any different?’
henry, who was studying fashion and photography, told his mother he was concerned about a university deadline when they met for dinner in ipswich on his birthday on May 10.
his mother – who is separated from his father and does not want to be named – urged him to contact his tutors. She dropped him off at the railway station the next day but he then made his way to the Orwell Bridge in ipswich, where he was picked up by police at 9.30am.
henry was assessed by two psychiatrists from the norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and was discharged the next day. his father, a furniture dealer, met him on May 15 unaware of the intervention and was also told of his university worries. henry saw his GP on May 16 and was prescribed medication but his body was found near his halls of residence in acton, west London, the following day.
Police concluded there were no suspicious circumstances.
his family were sent a condolence card by henry’s GP and his mother contacted her to ask for more information about him.
henry’s father, who also lives in ipswich, believes ‘negligence’ by Suffolk Police and mental health services contributed to his son’s death but he is also furious that he and his estranged wife were kept in the dark. he said: ‘henry made a cry for help that day when he was found on the bridge and everyone let him down.
‘There are all these professional people who knew what had been going on with henry, but we were told nothing. if we had been told we could have nursed him and helped him.
‘Tragically, it is too late for henry but these rules about confidentiality need to be looked at.’ Suffolk Police said: ‘Ulti- mately it is a mental health issue and we would put the person into the care of health services.’
alison armstrong, of the norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘i cannot comment on individual cases but if there is anything i can do to support family or friends please do get in touch.’
The Department of health said: ‘We can’t comment because there may be an inquest.’ ÷ For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123, or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.