Girl who killed herself at mental health unit was ‘most complex’ patient on ward, inquest hears
A 16-YEAR-OLD girl who had a long history of self-harm and suicidal behaviour died while staying at a secure mental health hospital in Nottingham.
Olivia Gray took her own life at Hopewood Hospital in Sherwood, weeks after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
An inquest into her death at Nottingham Council House on Tuesday heard she suffered with an array of mental and physical issues, including PTSD, emotional dysregulation, epilepsy, psychosis and type two diabetes. Before her death on May 11, 2021, Olivia had a history of selfharming and suicidal behaviour since the age of 14.
Originally from Corby in Northamptonshire, she was admitted as a voluntary patient at Hopewood’s Phoenix Ward on February 5, before being sectioned. This came on the back of a history of self-harming and suicidal behaviour since the age of 14, including jumping from a railway bridge in 2019.
A consultant psychiatrist on the ward told the jury inquest, which was attended by Olivia’s parents, that she had tried to abscond on February 13 and was taken to A&E when she said she had swallowed some button batteries. Dr Nazia said
16-YEAR-OLD HAD HISTORY OF SELF-HARMING AND
the challenging behaviour was not unusual but described Olivia as the “most complex” patient on the ward at the time.
“She was the one who required the most support and attention,” he said. “For her to have two or three days incident-free was good.”
Stuart Hamilton, forensic pathologist, concluded her medical cause of death as ligature strangulation. Dr
Nazia said this was something Olivia had previously attempted, with staff having to cut her free using a pair of special scissors.
Olivia was subject to checks every 10 minutes and refused therapy while on the ward several times, he added. Dr Nazia described home visits as being helpful for Olivia, but said returning to the ward was “a reminder she was unwell”.
He added the Covid pandemic had caused frustration for both staff and patients at the time. “It was frustrating for everyone because we couldn’t say you could go home for five or six hours then come back,” he said. You had to isolate for 10 days.” The inquest continues. ■ Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service 365 days a year. You can also email jo@samaritans.org