THE hidden cost of Cornwall’s Covid epidemic was revealed at an inquest into the death of a young mother who couldn’t cope mentally under the strain of lockdown.

The tragic death of Rebecca Jane Catterall at 26 years of age followed a long struggle with depression and anxiety, a Truro inquest heard. Her medical history documented evidence of depression and that she was on medication having a history of two overdose attempts.

Assistant coroner Guy Davis said the extreme pressure that was placed on Rebecca due to the circumstances of the pandemic and the restrictions that followed it, as well as the consequences for her being sole carer for her son who had special needs, placed her under considerable strain.

The inquest heard paramedics were called to her home in Grenville Gardens, Troon, Camborne on April 13 last year where they pronounced her dead at the scene at 03.37 hours, before police attended.

The inquest was told there were pressures on Rebecca which put considerable pressures on her relationship with her boyfriend Richard ‘Ricky’ Corbyn. Leading up to her death Rebecca was extremely angry and extremely upset following an argument with her boyfriend. At one point she handed over a note to be given to her son.

Her boyfriend and her family left her in the house to calm down but when they returned found her unconscious in the bedroom and called the emergency services.

A post mortem revealed that there was a mix of prescription and non-prescription drugs in her system, including an anti-depressant, as well as alcohol.

Mr Davis decided her death was not suicide as, even though she did take her life with her own actions, he did not find she intended to do so.

He said the note handed to her boyfriend to give to her son gave no indication that that was what Rebecca intended to do.

“The level of intoxication and the circumstances of the overdose and given the fact Rebecca was in a heightened emotional state she was clearly very angry. She was clearly very upset and the question to intent remains unclear.

“That heightened emotional state was aggravated and fueled by the consumption of alcohol and drugs and I do find that the pandemic exerted pressures upon Rebecca that led to this heightened emotional state and so I cannot find on a balance of probabilities that Rebecca intended to take her own life,” he said.

He decided she died from an overdose of prescription and non-prescription drugs.

If you need to talk to someone about the strain of the pandemic, or for any other reason, there are people to reach out to:

  • Shout: Shout is a free, confidential, anonymous service for anyone in the UK. It won’t appear on your phone bill. To start a conversation, text the word 'SHOUT' to 85258.
  • Samaritans: Call day or night for free on 116 123. 
  • Mind: Get short and longer term support in a mental health crisis by visiting www.mind.org.uk 

If you feel like your life is at risk right now or you need urgent medical help call 999 and ask for an ambulance or go straight to A&E if you can.