‘Alice in Wonderland’ mental health care failed suicidal mother
A SUICIDAL young mother was found hanged after she was let down by an NHS care system worthy of Alice in Wonderland, a coroner has ruled at her inquest.
Rebecca Kelsall, 31, had sought counselling for depression and thoughts of self-harm, but the coroner said rules within the mental health care system left her stranded without regular professional help.
After calling a clinic to say she was too “unwell” to attend an appointment, the mother of two — who had relationship problems — drank vodka and took anti-depressants before hanging herself at her home in Stretford, Greater Manchester.
Inquiries found that in the months before her death, Miss Kelsall had consulted an online therapist where she talked of killing herself, but when it was agreed she needed a face-to-face meeting, she was told she could no longer use the e-therapy system due to “procedure” – and she had to wait another four weeks for further help.
She eventually saw a psychologist and again admitted having suicidal thoughts, but when she rang to say she was too ill to attend a subsequent consultation, staff were unable to ask why, because of a policy banning “personal questions”.
The system that treated her was condemned as “flawed and poor” by John Pollard, the coroner, after she was dismissed from further treatment for failing to attend two meetings. The court heard that she was already dead when she was formally discharged for missing the second meeting.
Mr Pollard said: “I believe that the fact somebody has already died and therefore cannot possibly attend their appointment is a pretty exceptional circumstance. This is very poor policy.
“Here we have a vulnerable person with a history of problems, and because she doesn’t turn up, the system simply says ‘discharge her’.”
He said he would write to NHS bosses and the Care Quality Commission, adding: “I can feel myself slipping into the world of Alice in Wonderland here. This is a bonkers system. I shouldn’t have to use words like bonkers, but I feel it’s appropriate.”
Miss Kelsall was found dead on May 31 last year after her family raised concerns. There was no suicide note and the coroner left the conclusion open, saying she might not have been “thinking clearly” at the time. Her family were too upset to comment after the hearing in Stockport.