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Ceara Thacker death: Mental health services 'failed student' Ceara Thacker death: Mental health services 'failed student'
(31 minutes later)
The parents of a student found hanged at her halls of residence have claimed she was "failed" by mental health services. The parents of a student found hanged at her halls of residence have claimed she was failed by mental health services.
Ceara Thacker, from Bradford, was found dead at her University of Liverpool accommodation in May 2018.Ceara Thacker, from Bradford, was found dead at her University of Liverpool accommodation in May 2018.
Her parents said she had found herself "falling through the cracks" with different mental health services, who failed to communicate with each other.Her parents said she had found herself "falling through the cracks" with different mental health services, who failed to communicate with each other.
Area coroner Anita Bhardwaj recorded Ms Thacker's death was suicide.Area coroner Anita Bhardwaj recorded Ms Thacker's death was suicide.
The coroner said she would make a report for the prevention of future deaths to the NHS. She described a delay of two months between 19-year-old Ms Thacker referring herself to the university's mental health advisers in February, and being given an appointment in April, as "unacceptable".
She also described a delay of two months between Ms Thacker, 19, referring herself to the university's mental health advisers in February, and being given an appointment in April, as "unacceptable".
The inquest in Liverpool heard Ms Thacker's family had not been informed about a previous suicide attempt three months before her death.The inquest in Liverpool heard Ms Thacker's family had not been informed about a previous suicide attempt three months before her death.
Ms Bhardwaj said the issue of parental involvement, with consent, should be included in mental health assessments. Her father Iain, 56, said: "For as long as I live I will never understand why no-one at the university picked up the phone to us in February 2018 and told us that our 19-year-old daughter was in hospital after taking an overdose.
"One crucial source of support could have come from us, her family."
The inquest heard how Ms Thacker had struggled with mental health problems throughout her teenage years.
"We had cared for Ceara and helped her through her struggles with mental illness since she was 13," Mr Thacker added.
"We thought she was stable and managing her mental health well. Eight months after coming to the University of Liverpool she was dead."
Mr Thacker, who accused the university and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust of failing to apologise publicly, said it was "essential" universities communicated "effectively with healthcare services and, where appropriate, with families to ensure they are kept safe".
The student's mother Lorraine Dalton-Thacker, 51, said: "At every turn, she was failed.
"I can't imagine how frightening that must have been for her. She should not have had to face this and it breaks our hearts that she did.
"We don't want any other family to go through this pain."
Ms Bhardwaj said she would make a report for the prevention of future deaths to the NHS.
She will recommend the issue of parental involvement, with consent, is included in mental health assessments.
"It's difficult and unclear whether Ceara would have had a different outcome had she had additional mental health appointments, been given an urgent appointment and had family involvement," she said."It's difficult and unclear whether Ceara would have had a different outcome had she had additional mental health appointments, been given an urgent appointment and had family involvement," she said.
The court heard the delay in getting a mental health appointment was caused by "exceptional circumstances" including strike action, staff sickness and training days.The court heard the delay in getting a mental health appointment was caused by "exceptional circumstances" including strike action, staff sickness and training days.
Ms Bhardwaj said there was also no record of discussions between medical professionals and Miss Thacker about contacting her family. The coroner said there was also no record of discussions between medical professionals and Miss Thacker about contacting her family.
"It would have been helpful to have those discussions, so if Ceara wanted additional support from her family that could have been facilitated," she added."It would have been helpful to have those discussions, so if Ceara wanted additional support from her family that could have been facilitated," she added.
Ceara's mother Lorraine said her daughter had been failed by mental health services, while her father Iain accused the university of failing to apologise publicly. Gavin Brown, the university's pro-vice-chancellor for education, said: "We have conducted a thorough review of the support Ceara was offered and, as a result of this and our ongoing review of how these services work, we have instigated a number of improvements to mental health support services."
"We will never understand why no-one at that university picked up the phone to us," he said. If you or someone you know is struggling with issues raised by this story, find support through BBC Action Line.