MUM TOOK OWN LIFE DURING A YEAR-LONG WAIT FOR TREATMENT

31-year-old’s death leads to changes

A MUM-OF-TWO took her own life after battling mental health problems for years, an inquest heard.

Laura Myatt had been on an NHS waiting list for treatment for her depression when she took her own life in February.

But an inquest into the death was told that the 34-year-old had never mentioned suicide or selfharm to family or mental health professionals, prior to her death.

Ms Myatt’s dad found her hanged at her home in Beech Grove, May Bank on February 8.

Ms Myatt, who worked as a teaching assistant, had been referred to the adult community mental health team at the Lymebrook Centre in Chesterton by her GP in February 2021.

She was subsequently placed on the anxiety and depression pathway, for which there was a 51-week waiting list. She had also been prescribed antidepressants.

Family members told the inquest that while Ms Myatt had a history of mental health problems, these were not constant. But she deteriorated over the winter and told mental health services she thought she should be in hospital.

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust reviewed the case after Ms Myatt’s death.

Josephine Povey, associate director at North Staffs Combined, told the inquest that there had been nothing to indicate that Ms Myatt was likely to hurt herself.

She said: “Laura never expressed any suicidal ideation. We review patients who are on the waiting list. Unfortunately the programme is very lengthy, and there are waits.”

Ms Povey said the review has prompted a number of changes, including increasing contact with patients on waiting lists.

North Staffordshire coroner Andrew Barkley said that he was satisfied that Ms Myatt had intended to kill herself, and recorded a conclusion of suicide.

He added: “In her contact with the Lymebrook Centre there was never any suggestion that she was going to hurt herself.”