Larry Fedja

Grieving mum: ‘More evidence needed on anti-psychotic drugs’

Jonathan Maliasource: The Voice Online
published: 21 October 2014

The family of a physically healthy young man who died after being restrained on a mental health ward has vowed to continue fighting for justice after an inquest returned a “natural causes” verdict.

Jonathan Malia sought help for bipolar disorder in January 2013 and was transferred to the private Cygnet Hospital in Stevenage Hertfordshire.

It is thought the 24-year-old died from a heart attack caused by a blood clot. But relatives say they learnt that the father-of-one had injuries to both his head and arms when he arrived at hospital, which they believe were sustained in transit.

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Tippa Naphtali

Mental health triage to expand across W.Mids after successful pilot

unmarked ambulancesource: Mental Health Today
published: 10 October 2014

The mental health triage scheme, which sees psychiatric nurses attend with police officers to people suspected of being mentally unwell, is to be rolled out across the West Midlands after a successful pilot.

Since January, West Midlands Police officers have been crewed with psychiatric nurses and paramedics to answer calls in Birmingham and Solihull involving people believed to be experiencing mental ill health.

This has meant medical experts, rather than police officers, have been on hand to carry out assessments on individuals at the scene. They can also access patient records to determine if anyone they encounter is on medication or has previously experienced mental illness.

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Tippa Naphtali

Marlon McIntosh’s mum: I want the truth about how my son died

Marlon McIntoshsource: Birmingham Mail
published: 10 October 2014

The mother of a 28-year-old found hanged in his prison cell has pledged to fight to find out the truth after an inquest returned an open verdict. Marlon McIntosh, from Quinton, was serving a nine-week sentence for theft when he was discovered dead on April 30 last year at Birmingham Prison.

His devastated relatives were told by prison bosses that he had been found hanged.His mum Marlene spoke out after the three-day inquest and said the family had always believed that Marlon had not taken his own life.

The 50-year-old says she was now planning to continue the fight to find out the truth behind the death of the dad of two young daughters.The retail worker added: “We are pleased with the verdict, but it was only what we already knew.

“We knew he did not kill himself, but this verdict has opened even more questions that now need answering. I will not rest until I get the truth about my son’s death. I just don’t know where we go from here.

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