The senior coroner in Cornwall is to write to the clinical director of an NHS Trust over concerns about mental health patients who struggle when professionals they have a strong relationship with move on.

 

At an inquest into the death Christopher John Mills today, senior coroner Andrew Cox said he would make sure it was on the agenda for his next meeting with the clinical director of the Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust.

The inquest heard that Mr Mills, 46, from Helston died on May 30 this year after falling over the edge of cliffs on the stretch of coast path between Church Cove, Gunwalloe and Poldhu Cove. His fall was witnessed by many people who were there to see the sunset.

The inquest heard how Mr Mills had been diagnosed as bi-polar and struggled with his alcohol consumption. The inquest was told he had tried to take his own life on at least four other occasions.

He was being helped by the NHS trust community health team and We Are With You, a charity that offers free, confidential support to people in England and Scotland who have issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health, but was not engaging properly with either group at the time of his death.

This was especially true of one of the community health team who he trusted, NHS clinical psychologist Dr Mandy McTaggart, who had been working with him since 2017. After she moved on to a new position he did not engage with her replacement despite her best efforts to help him.

An emotional Dr McTaggart told the inquest Chris was "very intelligent" and had a different way of seeing the world and the Covid epidemic had not helped his mental health: "I think Covid did have a very profound impact on Chris," she said. "I think these things really didn't do well for his mental health. I think the isolation didn't do well for his mental health and so he struggled with aspects of what was going on in the world."

On the day of his death he had been invited to a barbecue at his brother Paul Mill's house but his anxiety levels appeared very high. He drank beer but didn't eat any food. He left the party early telling his brother that he would "sleep well tonight". As he left he looked his brother in the eye and said "I'm tired" which Mr Mills now thinks was a message.

Paying tribute to her son, his mother Kathleen Maher, said her son was "sensitive and kind" but had never got over the death of his father when Chris was 13. She said: "Chris was a friendly, fun loving man with a very outgoing nature and a great sense of humour. He was also very sensitive and kind and this made him a popular person to be with.

"He had a small group of very good friends and many acquaintances. Chris and I enjoyed a very close relationship and as a result had a good understanding of his mental health problems."

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Mr Cox said there was no doubt Mr Mills died at his own hand and that was also the view of his mother and two brothers.

He said he would discuss with Dr Adrian Flynn at Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust the issues raised about how clinicians can transition from patients where there is a strong therapeutic relationship. He would write to Dr Flynn to put it on the agenda for their next meeting.

Brother Paul Mills told the inquest: "I believe there are lessons to be learned through the services and it is our hope as a family that these lessons can be learned and potentially help somebody else in the future. I know Chris was grateful for the services and I know he was close to Mandy as well. I hope between all the services there could be an improvement."

  • If you've been affected by suicide or are struggling with your own mental health, there is help available.

Papyrus Hopeline UK is a confidential support and advice service for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide as well as anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide: Call: 0800 068 41 41, text: 07860 039 967, email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Call: 116123 or email: jo@samaritans.org.uk

SOS-Silence of Suicide is a national service for anyone who needs emotional support, understanding, compassion & kindness.

Call: 0300 1020 505 or email: support@sossilenceofsuicide.org

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.

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.