Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘They are listening’
Call for dedicated mental health facility to serve city
THE family of a Dundee man who took his life after reportedly being turned away from Carseview have called for the opening of a dedicated mental health hospital.
David Ramsay was found dead at the city’s Templeton Woods in 2016.
Before he died, the 50-year-old had been suffering from a mental breakdown which led to psychosis.
After harming himself and attempting to take his own life by overdosing, David’s family convinced him to seek help from his doctor.
David’s GP then contacted NHS Tayside’s Carseview Centre by emergency referral with a view to him being seen by mental health staff.
However, it is claimed they decided against admitting him and he was found dead four days later.
David’s family launched a campaign – alongside Mandy McLaren, whose son Dale took his life after being turned away from the centre – to have a public inquiry into all deaths at Carseview.
Now David Ramsay Sr and niece Gillian Murray are attending the Scottish Parliament as pressure grows on the government to launch the inquiry.
The family have also called for a facility similar to the now-closed Liff Hospital, which housed its last mental health patients in 2013, to be opened.
Gillian said: “Something needs to change – they need to listen to everyone.
“They need to open up a place like Liff Hospital where people can be admitted and treated.”
Gillian and David were due to attend parliament today, where they hoped political backers like Labour’s Anas Sarwar and the Lib Dems’ Willie Rennie were going to raise the matter at First Minister’s Questions.
They were also hopeful of getting a private chat with Nicola Sturgeon.
David said he broke down in tears after being invited to Holyrood by the MSPs who support their campaign.
He said: “Finally someone is listening – I was scared I would pass away without answers.”