Mental Health

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Seven deaths in West Midlands police custody in the last 12 years

Police Cell Victimssource: Express & Star
published: 20 February 2016

Seven people have died while in police custody across the West Midlands in the last 12 years, figures have revealed. They include five men and two women arrested on suspicion of crimes ranging from driving while unfit through drink or drugs to affray.

Among them was mother-of-four Sharmila Ullah who was being held at Bloxwich Police Station in July 2014 after being arrested for shoplifting.

A coroner concluded there had been some ‘individual failings’ in regards to observations while she was in custody but he was not satisfied they had contributed to her death.

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Tippa Naphtali

Leaked report reveals scale of crisis in England’s mental health services

Mental-Health-Sadnesssource: The Guardian
published: 13 February 2016

A leaked report by a government taskforce has painted a devastating picture of England’s mental health services, revealing that the number of people killing themselves is soaring, that three-quarters of those with psychiatric conditions are not being helped, and that sick children are being sent “almost anywhere in the country” for treatment.

Details of the damning assessment have come to light just as the prime minister is planning to herald a transformation of mental health services.

The report, due to be published on Monday to coincide with an announcement by the prime minister on funding and new initiatives, lays bare a system that is routinely failing people from every walk of life.

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Tippa Naphtali

Deaths of more than 1,000 people “not investigated by NHS”

Stress - Mental Healthsource: ITV News
published: 11 December 2015

A new report says that the unexpected deaths of more than 1,000 people have not been investigated by the NHS.

“They ignored him and they ignored us”. That’s the claim tonight from the parents of a man who they believe was failed by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Mark O’Shaugnessy told health professionals he wanted to kill himself and hurt his mother. Instead of being admitted to a psychiatric ward, he was allowed to return home where he committed suicide.

His mother Julie spoke out following yesterday’s revelation that the Trust has failed to investigate hundreds of unexpected deaths.

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