‘Her heart was broken bit by bit’
The parents of a Sunderland mum who died after a history of mental health problems told an inquest of how they battled to try and get her the help she needed.
MelissaDominiqueLee,26, from Plains Farm, had a happy childhood but started to get ill from around 19 and was diagnosed with a personality disorder, with a number of traumaticexperiencesimpacting on her wellbeing.
Her caring nature led the devoted mum-of-one to to enrollinanursingcourse,buther ownissuesmeantshewasunabletocontinue.Sheoverdosed onanumberofoccasionsafter taking substances to block out her distress.
Ataninquestintoherdeath at Sunderland Civic Centre, her parents Jeffrey and Rhoda paid tribute, describing her as a “beautiful, strong and intelligent woman – if it wasn’t for her illness she would have had a bright future ahead”.
Her mother raised concernsabouthercare,including assessments following overdoses, as they did not lead to a progression in treatment.
Her family agreed with Melissa she needed a residentialplacementandfelt“rejected and abandoned” when that was turned down.
MrsLeesaid:“IfoughtandI fought and I had to stop my job to try and take care of Melissa.
"I feel Melissa’s heart was broken bit by bit, destroyed, and it tarnished our trust in everything, in humanity.”
Her dad spoke of his “lovely girl” who he hoped to walk down the aisle.
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS FoundationTrustandSunderland
Royal Hospital believed her best chance of recovery was in the community, with a changefromachronictoacute condition needed for a placement.
Assistant coroner Karin Welsh recorded a conclusion of misadventure, saying she could not be sure the drugs in Melissa’s system after her death in March 2016 had been taken with the intention of ending her life.
Bothparentsagreedshedid not intend that outcome – Mrs Lee in particular was praised byMsWelshforherdedication in supporting their daughter.
The coroner added she did nothaveconcernsaboutMelissa’s care, but highlighted an issue in communication and an uncompleted report.
She acknowledged the differing views of the care workersandherfamily,adding“but that does not make one wrong and one right.”