Read on Twitter
thread: some stories i think are worth sharing for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek about systemic failings, inadequate care, underfunded services, deaths catalysed by benefits sanctions, and black men in crisis killed by police. lots of triggers here, i’ll tag each tweet individually
[TW police violence]
“Those involved in his death saw him as the stereotyped big black violent mentally unwell man ... the MH team, the accommodation provider, the police and paramedics who all stood by and let Kevin die.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/09/kevin-clarke-family-condemn-met-police-actions
“Those involved in his death saw him as the stereotyped big black violent mentally unwell man ... the MH team, the accommodation provider, the police and paramedics who all stood by and let Kevin die.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/09/kevin-clarke-family-condemn-met-police-actions
[TW DWP]
Errol Graham “was found dead at home by bailiffs sent to evict him in June 2018, eight months after all his benefits were stopped because of his failure to attend a fit for work assessment.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/04/family-of-man-who-starved-to-death-after-benefits-cut-loses-case-against-dwp
Errol Graham “was found dead at home by bailiffs sent to evict him in June 2018, eight months after all his benefits were stopped because of his failure to attend a fit for work assessment.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/04/family-of-man-who-starved-to-death-after-benefits-cut-loses-case-against-dwp
[TW suicide, self-harm]
"The unit knew he was always high risk ... and that he self-harmed frequently at the unit. I am angry and saddened that this has happened, especially in a setting that is there to keep people safe.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mums-anguish-after-son-dies-23169100
"The unit knew he was always high risk ... and that he self-harmed frequently at the unit. I am angry and saddened that this has happened, especially in a setting that is there to keep people safe.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mums-anguish-after-son-dies-23169100
[TW suicide]
“Azra Parveen Hussain was allegedly the seventh in-patient in seven years to die by the same means while in the care of Birmingham and Solihull Mental HealthNHS Foundation Trust (BSMHT).”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-mental-health-suicide-birmingham-inquest-b1823187.html
“Azra Parveen Hussain was allegedly the seventh in-patient in seven years to die by the same means while in the care of Birmingham and Solihull Mental HealthNHS Foundation Trust (BSMHT).”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-mental-health-suicide-birmingham-inquest-b1823187.html
[TW police violence]
“We have heard about the brute force with which the police held Seni in a prolonged restraint, which they knew to be dangerous: a restraint that was maintained until he was dead, for all intents & purposes”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/09/olaseni-lewis-died-in-part-from-disproportionate-use-of-force
“We have heard about the brute force with which the police held Seni in a prolonged restraint, which they knew to be dangerous: a restraint that was maintained until he was dead, for all intents & purposes”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/09/olaseni-lewis-died-in-part-from-disproportionate-use-of-force
[TW suicide]
"I have no idea how he got out” through multiple secure doors, said his mother, who said she was considering legal action. "I heard he was being checked at least 4 times an hour. I want answers & I want the truth."
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-54795035
"I have no idea how he got out” through multiple secure doors, said his mother, who said she was considering legal action. "I heard he was being checked at least 4 times an hour. I want answers & I want the truth."
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-54795035
[TW police violence]
[A witness said] around six officers were lying across Sheku for several minutes. "I heard him screaming. It sent chills through me. I heard the man shout to get the police off him. They never moved."
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53076269
[A witness said] around six officers were lying across Sheku for several minutes. "I heard him screaming. It sent chills through me. I heard the man shout to get the police off him. They never moved."
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53076269
[TW police violence]
She told the jury “both officers knelt around Atkinson, who other witnesses have said was apparently motionless ... she heard the male officer say to the female officer, “fucking hit him, fucking hit him”.
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/07/officer-urged-partner-hit-dalian-atkinson-injured-court-told
She told the jury “both officers knelt around Atkinson, who other witnesses have said was apparently motionless ... she heard the male officer say to the female officer, “fucking hit him, fucking hit him”.
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/07/officer-urged-partner-hit-dalian-atkinson-injured-court-told
[TW suicide]
“Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust did not have an anti-door ligature system in place on its en-suite bathroom doors, which it acknowledges led to eight deaths in seven years.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-56687921
“Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust did not have an anti-door ligature system in place on its en-suite bathroom doors, which it acknowledges led to eight deaths in seven years.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-56687921
[TW inpatient death]
“In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, [coroner] said the centre failed to carry out a risk assessment & there was a delay in administering a drug resulting in "her mania not being brought under control"
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-55178348
“In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, [coroner] said the centre failed to carry out a risk assessment & there was a delay in administering a drug resulting in "her mania not being brought under control"
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-55178348
[TW suicide]
“All 3 died ... after health chiefs failed to respond to a previous warning about ligature points on furniture & fittings at the unit, which was supposedly designed for patients with acute mental health conditions.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/much-loved-young-woman-dies-23424162
“All 3 died ... after health chiefs failed to respond to a previous warning about ligature points on furniture & fittings at the unit, which was supposedly designed for patients with acute mental health conditions.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/much-loved-young-woman-dies-23424162
[TW inpatient killing]
"Over several days the jury listened to a catalogue of instances of poor management, sloppy procedures, failure to keep records and even the falsification of records,” said the judge.
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-55175703
"Over several days the jury listened to a catalogue of instances of poor management, sloppy procedures, failure to keep records and even the falsification of records,” said the judge.
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-55175703
[TW self-harm]
[He said] “it was “incredible” that prison staff refused to enter his son’s cell during the main self-harming episode for 67 minutes to prevent him from blinding himself, despite knowing he was on “suicide watch”.
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.irishnews.com/news/2016/09/14/news/staff-watched-as-mentally-ill-prisoner-blinded-himself-694493/
[He said] “it was “incredible” that prison staff refused to enter his son’s cell during the main self-harming episode for 67 minutes to prevent him from blinding himself, despite knowing he was on “suicide watch”.
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.irishnews.com/news/2016/09/14/news/staff-watched-as-mentally-ill-prisoner-blinded-himself-694493/
[TW suicide, DWP]
“In the months before her death her health rapidly deteriorated following the cancellation of her disability benefits because of missing paperwork. This reduced her weekly income from £228 to just £60 a week.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/05/family-of-mentally-ill-single-mother-accuse-dwp-of-failing-to-protect-her
“In the months before her death her health rapidly deteriorated following the cancellation of her disability benefits because of missing paperwork. This reduced her weekly income from £228 to just £60 a week.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/05/family-of-mentally-ill-single-mother-accuse-dwp-of-failing-to-protect-her
[TW suicide, self-harm]
“Government statistics show 218 people died within 60 days of attending A&E suffering from a psychiatric condition between 2017 and 2019.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/hundreds-taken-lives-within-weeks-23577786
“Government statistics show 218 people died within 60 days of attending A&E suffering from a psychiatric condition between 2017 and 2019.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/hundreds-taken-lives-within-weeks-23577786
[TW inpatient death, ED]
“MH trusts’ failure to look into patients’ deaths became an issue in 2015 when it emerged that Southern health trust had not examined deaths of about 1,000 patients with autism or learning disabilities.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/27/nhs-deaths-mental-health-patients-england
“MH trusts’ failure to look into patients’ deaths became an issue in 2015 when it emerged that Southern health trust had not examined deaths of about 1,000 patients with autism or learning disabilities.”
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/27/nhs-deaths-mental-health-patients-england
