Mum with money problems ‘took her own life while children were at school after GP found she wasn't suicidal'

The Sun

2 days ago

A MUM with money problems took her own life while her children were at school after a GP ruled she wasn't suicidal, an inquest heard.
Amy Manning, 32, was discovered dead in her Somerset home by her police officer partner, who had come round to check on her.
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Taunton Coroner's Court heard the mum-of-two was in financial difficulty at the time of her death in January last year.
But Amy had been working with the Citizen's Advice Bureau to get to grips with her money problems.
The inquest also heard she was diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) and had been using alcohol and cocaine before her death.
Her family said the hairdresser's mental health had started to deteriorate during the Covid lockdown.
They told the court she fell pregnant but "did not feel able to raise the child' while under emotional and financial stress and sought an abortion.
Her GP said Amy had 'chronic suicidal thoughts' but was not considered 'actively suicidal' because her desire to remain alive for her children was considered a 'protective factor.'
Susan Hawker, a psychiatric nurse with the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said the mum was facing significant financial problems, had failed to pay her rent and had never paid a water bill.
But she also confirmed she did not believe Amy was suicidal and said she was "shocked" when she discovered she was dead.
Giving his own evidence, Amy's partner Sam Plumley said their on-off relationship was "difficult" before her death as she had begun drinking more and was struggling with her mental health.
He told how the pair had been texting the night before the tragedy and had no concerns for her welfare.
The following morning, he went to Amy's home when she failed to respond to his messages and discovered the mum dead in her bedroom.
He said he laid Amy on the bed and "hugged her" while he waited for paramedics to arrive.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Amy's death.
They also found nothing "sufficiently alarming that leads us to believe any criminal offence or anything undue was done by Sam".
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
Assistant Coroner Stephen Cavell recorded a verdict of suicide.
He said Amy had a good relationship with her family, was a committed mother and had a good work ethic but noted her EUPD diagnosis.
The coroner said the disorder was associated with compulsive behaviour, which may have been exacerbated by her use of alcohol and cocaine.
He concluded that under the influence of alcohol and drugs and facing financial and emotional stress, Amy made the 'impulsive' decision to take her own life.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
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