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| Ceara Thacker death: Mental health services 'failed student' | Ceara Thacker death: Mental health services 'failed student' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The parents of a student found hanged at her university halls have claimed she was failed by mental health services. | The parents of a student found hanged at her university halls 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. |
| The 19-year-old's parents said she had fallen "through the cracks" between different services, who failed to communicate with each other. | The 19-year-old's parents said she had fallen "through the cracks" between different services, who failed to communicate with each other. |
| Area coroner Anita Bhardwaj recorded Ms Thacker's death as suicide. | Area coroner Anita Bhardwaj recorded Ms Thacker's death as suicide. |
| She described a delay of two months between Ms Thacker referring herself to the university's mental health advisers in February, and being given an appointment in April, as "unacceptable". | She described a delay of two months between Ms Thacker referring herself to the university's mental health advisers in February, and being given an appointment in April, as "unacceptable". |
| The inquest in Liverpool also heard Ms Thacker's family had not been informed about a previous suicide attempt three months before her death. | |
| Her father Iain, 56, said: "Sadly, when her mental health began to decline she found herself falling through the cracks, with mental health services, her GP and different departments within the university failing to communicate with each other to ensure that she was provided with the support that she desperately needed. | Her father Iain, 56, said: "Sadly, when her mental health began to decline she found herself falling through the cracks, with mental health services, her GP and different departments within the university failing to communicate with each other to ensure that she was provided with the support that she desperately needed. |
| "One crucial source of support could have come from us, her family. | "One crucial source of support could have come from us, her family. |
| "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." | "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." |
| The inquest heard Ms Thacker, who was studying philosophy, had struggled with mental health problems throughout her teenage years. | The inquest heard Ms Thacker, who was studying philosophy, 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 said. | "We had cared for Ceara and helped her through her struggles with mental illness since she was 13," Mr Thacker said. |
| "We thought she was stable and managing her mental health well. Eight months after coming to the University of Liverpool she was dead." | "We thought she was stable and managing her mental health well. Eight months after coming to the University of Liverpool she was dead." |
| He added: "If we had known how Ceara was suffering we could have, and would have, made a difference." | He added: "If we had known how Ceara was suffering we could have, and would have, made a difference." |
| Mr Thacker said it was "essential" universities communicated "effectively with healthcare services and, where appropriate, with families to ensure they are kept safe". | Mr Thacker said it was "essential" universities communicated "effectively with healthcare services and, where appropriate, with families to ensure they are kept safe". |
| Ms Thacker's mother Lorraine Dalton-Thacker, 51, said: "At every turn, she was failed. | Ms Thacker'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. | "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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | She will recommend the issue of parental involvement, with consent, is included in mental health assessments. |
| The coroner said there was no record of discussions between medical professionals and Ms Thacker about contacting her family. | The coroner said there was no record of discussions between medical professionals and Ms 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. |
| However, it remained "difficult and unclear" whether Ms Thacker "would have had a different outcome had she had additional mental health appointments, been given an urgent appointment and had family involvement", the coroner said. | However, it remained "difficult and unclear" whether Ms Thacker "would have had a different outcome had she had additional mental health appointments, been given an urgent appointment and had family involvement", the coroner said. |
| The court heard the two-month delay in getting a mental health appointment was caused by "exceptional circumstances" including strike action, staff sickness and training days. | The court heard the two-month delay in getting a mental health appointment was caused by "exceptional circumstances" including strike action, staff sickness and training days. |
| Gavin Brown, Liverpool 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." | Gavin Brown, Liverpool 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." |
| If you or someone you know is struggling with issues raised by this story, find support through BBC Action Line. | If you or someone you know is struggling with issues raised by this story, find support through BBC Action Line. |