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Mother, 32, with money problems took her own life while her children were at school after GP wrongly concluded she wasn't 'actively suicidal', inquest hears
A mother struggling with money problems took her own life while her kids were at school after her GP wrongly concluded she wasn't suicidal, an inquest has heard.
Amy Manning, 32, was found dead in her home on January 17, 2024, after her police officer partner came round to check on her.
At a hearing at Taunton Coroner's Court, Assistant Coroner Stephen Cavell said 'it was clear she could not be saved' after she was discovered in her bedroom while her children were in lessons.
The court heard how Ms Manning had been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), and had been using alcohol and cocaine prior to her death.
EUPD, also known as Borderline Personality Disorder, is a mental health condition marked by difficulty regulating emotions, maintaining stable relationships, and impulsive behavior.
She was said to be a good mother to her two children, a hard worker and a skilled hairdresser, whose mental health began to deteriorate during the Covid lockdown.
Amy's family said 'Lockdown had a significant impact on her mental health' and after becoming pregnant she sought an abortion because she 'did not feel able to raise the child' while under emotional and financial stress.
Giving evidence, Sam Plumley, an officer with Dorset Police and Ms Manning's on and off partner, said the relationship was 'difficult' in the run up to her death, telling the court: 'She had started drinking a lot more alcohol and she appeared to seem more unwell and was struggling with her mental health.
'The relationship was on and off. I tried to distance myself a little while still offering support and being there for her.'
Ms Manning was understood to have been in financial difficulty at the time of her death, and was working with the Citizen's Advice Bureau to get to grips with her money problems.
Mr Plumley said he was aware that she owed money, but did not know how much, or to whom.
He gave evidence that he had been texting her the night before her death, when she was cutting a friend's hair, and said he had no concerns for her welfare.
It wasn't until the following morning, when she failed to respond to Mr Plumley's messages, that he visited the property, arriving at around 12.30pm.
After entering with his key, he discovered she had died after barricading herself in the bedroom and hanging herself.
After calling the ambulance service, Mr Plumley recalled he laid her on the bed, 'hugged her' and awaited the arrival of the emergency services.
The ambulance record showed paramedics did not attempt resuscitation due to 'obvious death features' and her death was declared at 1pm, six minutes after paramedics arrived.
The court heard evidence from Ms Manning's GP, who said she had 'chronic suicidal thoughts' but was not considered 'actively suicidal' because her desire to remain alive for her children was considered a 'protective factor.'
Attending court, Susan Hawker, a psychiatric nurse with the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said Ms Manning had been facing significant financial problems, had failed to pay her rent and had never paid a water bill.
Ms Hawker also testified she did not believe Ms Manning was suicidal and that she was 'shocked' when she heard the news of her death, telling the court: 'She was clear to me she wanted to look after her sons who were the protective factor.'
Mr Plumley was asked about allegations he had taken money from Amy's account.
He said he had borrowed money from her on numerous occasions, but had always repaid it, saying: 'If there was money from her account it was never not put back in, nothing was ever taken out without her knowledge.
'There was a two-month period where it happened a few times but over the course of the four years it didn't happen often.'
Asked if he had borrowed money from Amy in the month before her death, Mr Plumley said: 'No, I couldn't accurately answer that, I don't think so.'
The court also heard that Miss Manning's elder son handed a phone to the police, asking them to look at messages exchanged between his mother and Mr Plumley.
The police gave evidence that they found 'no conversations of major concern to explain why Amy took the actions she did.
'What was evident was a lack of trust.'
Avon and Somerset Police said there were no suspicious circumstances around the death and added that 'nothing has been found that is sufficiently alarming that leads us to believe any criminal offence or anything undue was done by Sam.'
In his findings of fact, Mr Cavell said Amy had a good relationship with her family, was a committed mother and had a good work ethic.
But he noted she had been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, anxiety and depression and came to the attention of mental health services in 2020.
He said the disorder was associated with compulsive behaviour, which may have been exacerbated by her use of alcohol and cocaine.
Under the influence of alcohol and drugs and facing financial and emotional stress, she made the 'impulsive' decision to suspend herself, he added.
Mr Cavell found that Amy intended to die by her actions, and came to a conclusion of suicide.
