Latest news with #SussexPartnershipNHSFoundationTrust
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Young people to give advice on mental health care
Young people who have faced mental health challenges are helping with a new scheme in Sussex aimed at providing specialist care at home. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team run by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is "drawing on the experiences of those who have been through the system to try to improve outcomes". The former service users are helping to design the scheme aimed at treating some people at home rather than admitting them to hospital. Dr Anna Moriarty, associate clinical director of CAMHS, said: "What we're hearing from young people is they are keen to have an alternative to being admitted to hospital." She told BBC Radio Sussex: "They want to be closer to their family and friends and continue with their education. "We are continuing to adapt to increased demand on services. "This is enhancing our offer for young people with significant mental health difficulties." Evie, who was admitted into inpatients for six months, is helping with the Sussex scheme. She said: "Having a perspective from someone my age who has been through similar things to me would have really benefited me. "It is about how we can make the system better." Dulcie, another former service user, said: "People who are now in a better place can communicate with the professionals to improve outcomes for everybody. "I think it's good to use people who have used the services themselves as they know how it is from a first-hand perspective." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Campaign to protect mental wellbeing launched Mental health support and recovery service extended Children hearing voices given support in new study Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
TikToker died after 'failure' by health services
A coroner has flagged "failure by mental health services" to manage the risk to a deaf TikTok star who died after ingesting a poisonous substance she ordered online. Imogen Nunn, 25, died in Brighton on New Year's Day 2023 having struggled with her mental health since she was 13. On Friday, the inquest at West Sussex Coroner's Court in Horsham heard proper safeguarding measures were not put in place after Ms Nunn told a nurse she had bought chemicals online for use in suicide. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust apologised that it did not deliver "consistent quality care" and said its care planning, management of risk and communication with other NHS organisations should have been better. Senior coroner Penelope Schofield said there was a "failure" from mental health services to manage Ms Nunn's risk by not reviewing her care plan after she tried to kill herself in October 2022. She said there was also a failure to put in place safeguarding measures after being told Ms Nunn had accessed a pro-suicide website, and to have a face-to-face meeting to assess her risk two days before her death. The coroner also underlined a backdrop of "systemic challenges" with the number of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters across various UK industries and indicated she would be writing to the government about this. Ms Schofield said: "This is on a background of systemic, longstanding and well-documented challenges in the provision of mental health for deaf patients, with particular emphasis on the national shortage of BSL interpreters and the difficulty this presents for patients to be able to communicate their distress when their mental health is deteriorating or they are in crisis." If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. The court previously heard Ms Nunn contacted her support worker at the deaf adult community team on 23 November and told them she had "bought something online that she planned to take to end her life". While the police were contacted, and they visited Ms Nunn's address, no long-term changes were made to her care plan, the inquest heard. Three days before Ms Nunn's death, she received a check-in visit at her home from care professionals after sending a text message saying she had had an increase in suicidal thoughts. On the same day she also sent a message to her therapist saying: "I want to be admitted to hospital I can't keep myself safe." No BSL interpreter was taken to the meeting as there was not enough time to arrange one, the court heard. Louise Nunn, Ms Nunn's mother, said: "We welcome the coroner's findings and hope that the agencies concerned can learn vital lessons from what happened to Immy to ensure that no other family has to endure the pain that we have endured. "We believe Immy's death was avoidable and that there were several opportunities to help her which were missed by those entrusted with her care. "We believe that had appropriate actions been taken after the many times Immy asked the care professionals she trusted for help, she would still be alive today." Ms Nunn, who was born deaf, raised awareness of hearing and mental health issues on her social media accounts, which attracted more than 780,000 followers. Her mum said: "After she died, Immy received thousands of messages from her followers to let us know how she had helped them with their problems, and in some cases even saved their lives. "Whilst nothing can ever heal the pain of losing Immy, we take comfort in the knowledge that she was able to help so many others facing similar struggles to her." The inquest into Ms Nunn's death had to be adjourned for two months in March because there were no BSL interpreters available to translate for two deaf witnesses. Ms Schofield has proposed to write to the Cabinet Office, the Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care about the "systemic" issues underlined by the inquest. The Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: "Since Immy's death we have improved how we audit the quality of documentation, including care plans and risks assessments. "We are introducing a new electronic patient records system, which will improve our ability to share information with other NHS partners. "We are committed to working with all partners to improve accessibility to BSL interpreters and will support any changes arising from the concerns raised by the senior coroner." Additional reporting from PA Media. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Deaf people still struggling, nurse tells inquest Lack of signer halts deaf influencer's inquest TikTok star 'overdosed in months before her death' West Sussex Coroner's Service
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Brighton TikTok star overdosed prior to her death, inquest told
A TikTok star who died after taking a poison she ordered online had overdosed on prescribed medication in the months before her death, an inquest Nunn, 25, died at her Brighton flat on New Year's Day 2023 after taking a poisonous inquest into her death was told Ms Nunn, who was born deaf and used social media to raise awareness of hearing and mental health issues, saw a consultant psychiatrist on three occasions in the months prior to her Simon Baker, of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said meetings were held after she overdosed on medication and after an incident of self-harm but that no changes were made to her care on either occasion. Dr Baker, who also saw Ms Nunn three days before her death, said she had "pretty much the maximum amount of support".Asked by Penelope Schofield, the senior coroner for West Sussex, if he felt Ms Nunn was safe to remain in the community, Dr Baker said: "She had a very comprehensive package of care. She was seeing a psychologist once a week."He added that Ms Nunn did not present as "acutely suicidal" at the time of the meeting, but the overdose was "on the spectrum" of if the overdose could have been an attempt to end her life, Dr Baker said: "There is a distinction between deliberate self-harm and suicidal acts."The inquest previously heard how Dr Baker had attended Ms Nunn's home with her care co-ordinator Ray McCullagh on 29 December, 2022, but no British Sign Language interpreter was in Nunn, known as Immy, had more than 780,000 followers on her social media inquest at West Sussex Coroner's Court in Horsham continues on Friday. Additional reporting by PA you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.
The Independent
20-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Deaf TikTok star overdosed on medication months before suicide, inquest hears
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. A deaf TikTok star who died after ingesting a poison she ordered online had overdosed on prescribed medication in the months before her death, an inquest heard. Imogen Nunn, 25, died in Brighton, East Sussex, on New Year's Day 2023 after taking a poisonous substance. Ms Nunn, who was born deaf, raised awareness of hearing and mental health issues on her social media accounts, which attracted more than 780,000 followers. An inquest into her death on Thursday heard that Ms Nunn's consultant psychiatrist at the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Simon Baker, saw her three times between March and December 2022, including during a home visit three days before her death. One meeting came after Ms Nunn had overdosed on medication and another after she had cut her forearm as a result of self-harm, but no changes were made in her mental health care on either occasion, West Sussex Coroner's Court heard. Giving evidence about his first meeting with Ms Nunn on March 9 2022, Dr Baker told the court she was 'quite low in mood' and he had concerns about her as she felt unable to cope with her tiredness. He said: 'This meeting was precipitated by an overdose of her prescribed medication. 'I felt this was an appropriate point to have a review of her care.' Asked by senior coroner for West Sussex, Penelope Schofield, if he felt Ms Nunn was safe to remain in the community, Dr Baker said: 'She had a very comprehensive package of care. She was seeing a psychologist once a week. 'She had pretty much the maximum amount of support.' He added that Ms Nunn did not present as 'acutely suicidal' at the time of the meeting, but the overdose was 'on the spectrum' of self-harm. Asked if the overdose could have been an attempt to end her life, Dr Baker said: 'There is a distinction between deliberate self-harm and suicidal acts.' Asked by the coroner what her treatment plan was, going forward, Dr Baker told the court he would see Ms Nunn 'as and when required' but that he 'didn't feel we could add anything to it (her care).' A second meeting between Ms Nunn and Dr Baker took place at a clinic on September 16 2022 after carers became concerned about her mood, which appeared to have been affected by relationship problems, the court heard. Dr Baker told the inquest Ms Nunn did not want her medication to be amended at the meeting and revealed she had began researching what medications she was on. Asked if that behaviour was unusual, Dr Baker said: 'I find it very healthy – in fact, I encourage it.' The court previously heard Ms Nunn ordered a lethal chemical substance online on November 14, which was delivered to her home address on November 21. She had contacted her support worker at the deaf adult community team on November 23 and told them she had 'bought something online that she planned to take to end her life'. Dr Baker told the court he had not been involved in any response to a disclosure about the chemical substance. Asked by the coroner whether he would expect to be involved, he said: 'Not necessarily. If we knew a patient had purchased some toxin, we would move more promptly.' On December 29 2022, Dr Baker attended Ms Nunn's home with her care co-ordinator Ray McCullagh after she had sent a text message saying she had an increase in suicidal thoughts. No British Sign Language interpreter was brought to the meeting as there was not enough time to arrange it, the court heard. Ms Nunn was 'quite subdued' during the meeting but engaged in an interview, Dr Baker said, and he was 'surprised' at how well it went. She agreed to go to A&E at Royal Sussex County Hospital with Mr McCullagh and Dr Baker after she had changed her mind and no longer requested an admission, the court heard. Dr Baker said the immediate plan was that Ms Nunn should be reassessed after having treatment for the incident of self-harm in which she had injured her arm. Asked by the coroner if there was a 'missed opportunity' to provide her support, Dr Baker said: 'She had more support than any other patient in our care.' Asked if he could have done any more following the self-harm incident, he told the court: 'The only support that would have made a difference was in the patient care.' Dr Baker said he made no record of the home visit on December 29 as there was 'no change' in her diagnosis or medical treatment. The inquest also heard a statement from emergency nurse practitioner Annie Mead, who had been on shift at A&E at Royal Sussex County Hospital when Ms Nunn was admitted. She said Ms Nunn had 'caused deliberate harm to her left forearm' with a cut at approximately 1am on December 29, and that no drugs or alcohol were found in her system when checked. The statement added: 'During my contact with Ms Nunn, she was not expressing suicidal or self harm intent.' The inquest previously heard Ms Nunn was eventually left alone in the emergency room, and walked out of hospital before being seen by the mental health liaison team. The inquest continues on Friday.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
TikTok star assessed as 'high risk', inquest told
A TikTok star who died after taking a poisonous substance she ordered online was assessed as being "high risk" two days before her death, an inquest has heard. Imogen Nunn, who died at her Brighton flat on New Year's Day in 2023, had struggled with her mental health from the age of 14. The 25-year-old, known as Immy, posted videos about mental health and being deaf on her TikTok account, which had almost 780,000 followers. An inquest into her death at West Sussex Coroner's Court on Wednesday heard that her care co-coordinator, Ray McCullagh, said she had "mentioned ingesting poison in the past". Warning: Contains distressing content The inquest heard that Ms Nunn told her psychologist on 30 December 2022 that she expressed "strong thoughts of taking her own life by drinking poison". Following the meeting, her psychologist described her as "high risk", and Ms Nunn agreed to go to a mental health facility. The inquest heard Mr McCullagh, who then worked at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, did not meet her and her admission never took place. Mr McCullagh said he attended a care package review with Ms Nunn on 13 December 2022 and said she requested the support to be reduced. The inquest heard that Ms Nunn sent Mr McCullagh a text message on 29 December asking to be admitted to a ward with sign language. It said: "I'm losing the plot. I've tried the second resort and it didn't work. I know I can easily go into the last resort and I don't want to." Mr McCullagh told the coroner he was unsure what "second resort" meant. He arranged a home visit on 29 December and noticed she had self-harm wounds on her forearm. The inquest heard Ms Nunn agreed to go to A&E at Royal Sussex County Hospital with Mr McCullagh and her consultant psychiatrist, Dr Simon Baker. Mr McCullagh said he stayed in A&E with Ms Nunn and spoke to the hospital's mental health team. The inquest heard Ms Nunn walked out of hospital before being seen by staff. The following day, Mr McCullagh emailed Ms Nunn's psychologist Julia Lord from the Deaf Adult Community Team (DACT). The inquest heard Ms Nunn met Ms Lord on the same day and told her she "did not feel safe" and had "a plan to take her own life" by drinking poison, but she denied possessing any chemicals at the time. Additional reporting by PA Media. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. TikTok star's death was 'avoidable', say family West Sussex Coroner's Court
