Overview
- Samantha Young, 49, was found to have intentionally taken her own life after an inquest concluded the community mental health team failed to carry out adequate risk assessments or provide sufficient support.
- In the days before her death, she repeatedly asked to be admitted or sectioned, told a nurse she felt unsafe, expressed suicidal thoughts via a text service, and called an out-of-hours number that went unanswered on several occasions.
- The coroner urged a review of guidelines, stressing that families are an invaluable source for assessing risk, and noted prior reports that flagged persistent communication failures with carers.
- The trust said it had investigated, accepted the coroner's findings, apologized, and committed to clearer risk assessments, stronger follow-up, and better involvement of families and carers.
- The report was sent to Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the trust’s leadership, who must submit official responses by 18 September.