Investigating Essex: Dying To Be Saved

On the 9th of September 2024, The Lampard Inquiry started in the town of Chelmsford in Essex. The aim of the inquiry is to investigate over 2000 deaths that occurred in Essex mental health units or within three months of being discharged, from 2000 - 2023.

Just three days prior, on the 6th of September, Melanie Leahy, the mother who fought for this inquiry after her son Matthew died in 2012, opened her door to a journalist, who gave her some truly shocking news that made headlines across the UK.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Please note this episode includes both references to abuse and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I, Naomi, tell you why I wanted to make this series. Because a friend of mine, 34-year-old Suzanne Brown, known lovingly as Sue, was murdered by her boyfriend. My friend and her boyfriend consistently asked for help for his mental health issues, but that help never came.

My friend Sam, Sue's best friend, helps me tell her story, as we remember the incredible woman she was.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Please note this episode includes both references to sexual assault, self-harm and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whilst around 2000 deaths are being investigated by the Lampard Inquiry, there have been many other deaths of people who have been under the care of Essex mental health services, but they aren't being included. This is because they fall outside of the three-month post discharge window set by the terms of reference. People like 21-year-old Tillie, who just missed out on being included in the inquiry, despite years of treatment under EPUT.

This is Tillie's story, told by her mother Lisa.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Please note this episode includes both references to sexual assault, self-harm and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we see what happens when staff make the wrong decision. A decision that can mean the difference between life or death.

35-year-old Joshua Leader was about to admitted into a mental health unit in Essex, after a mental health nurse saw that Joshua was on the edge of life. But another nurse decided that wasn't going to happen, without reading Joshua's notes and without giving him a proper assessment. He was sent home and 2 days later, he was dead.

This is Joshua's story, told by his brother Dan.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Listen to Sam's song 'Fighting For Justice' here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2u5H0K8hvg&t=31s

Please note this episode includes both references to sexual assault, self-harm and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

26-year-old Abbigail Smith was the apple of her mother's eye. She was a talented young woman with a beautiful voice and a kind heart.

But her struggles with autism and mental health meant that she was frequently in the hands of those working in Essex mental health services, spending years in inpatient facilities, trying to be saved. But Abbigail's mother Lisa, said that instead of being saved, she was traumatised by the things she saw and things that happened to her whilst in the states care. So much so, that it ended up killing her.

This is Abbigail's story, told by her mother Lisa.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Please note this episode includes both references to sexual assault, self-harm and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/ - For people who have been the victim of sexual abuse (UK)

https://www.rainn.org/ - Sexual Abuse Support USA

https://www.nasasv.org.au/support-directory - Sexual Abuse Support Australia

https://www.rcni.ie/useful-links/ - Sexual Abuse Support Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we look at a number of sexual assaults on patients, committed by staff within mental health units in Essex and hear accounts from some of the victims.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Please note this episode includes both references to sexual assault, self-harm and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/ - For people who have been the victim of sexual abuse (UK)

https://www.rainn.org/ - Sexual Abuse Support USA

https://www.nasasv.org.au/support-directory - Sexual Abuse Support Australia

https://www.rcni.ie/useful-links/ - Sexual Abuse Support Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Paul Rucklidge-Smith's mother Dot started to experience mental health issues in later life, he did everything he could to keep his mother safe.

Dot was living with manic depression and dementia, and after several stays in mental health units across Essex, she was put into in a hospital where she started to decline further. She told Paul that she thought she would die if he didn't get her out of there. And tragically, she was right.

This is Dot's story, told by her son Paul.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Please note this episode includes both references to sexual assault, self-harm and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christopher Nota was a 19-year-old young man, who was loved by everyone who met him. He had autism and mental health issues, and his mother Julia did everything she could to keep him safe.

But when he was placed in to the care of mental health services in Southend in Essex, they did not do everything they could to keep him safe. And he ended up dying in the most horrific way. Julia wants answers. In this episode, she shares Chris' story.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Please note this episode includes both references to sexual assault, self-harm and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the number of deaths on Essex mental health wards rising since the year 2000, journalists and programme makers across the country were conducting their own investigations, way before the Lampard Inquiry was commissioned.

in this episode, we review what was found. And it's nothing short of harrowing.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Please note this episode includes both references to sexual assault, self-harm and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/ - For people who have been the victim of sexual abuse (UK)

https://www.rainn.org/ - Sexual Abuse Support USA

https://www.nasasv.org.au/support-directory - Sexual Abuse Support Australia

https://www.rcni.ie/useful-links/ - Sexual Abuse Support Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Morris was a 20-year-old father who wanted to get better for his baby girl. His mental health was deteriorating and he needed to be in a place of safety.

Ben was found dead in his room in an Essex mental health ward in December 2008. But his mother Lisa, does not accept that he took his own life. She believes someone took it from him and in this episode, she explains why.

Follow Melanie Leahy's fight for justice:

https://curementalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/470129540220825/

To find out more about the Lampard Inquiry:

https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/

Please note this episode includes both references to sexual assault, self-harm and suicide. If you need support, please see the links below to organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/ - For people who have been the victim of sexual abuse (UK)

https://www.rainn.org/ - Sexual Abuse Support USA

https://www.nasasv.org.au/support-directory - Sexual Abuse Support Australia

https://www.rcni.ie/useful-links/ - Sexual Abuse Support Ireland

If you would like to support for the show, you can do so here, thank you so much: 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

EPUTS ROR via their website:

https://eput.nhs.uk/the-lampard-inquiry/

To see other podcasts by Naomi Channell, please find the information here:

https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast

Naomi produces a weekly true crime podcast called 'Real', as well as other multipart deep dives including:

'His Name Was Stuart Lubbock'

'Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence'

'Through The Wall: The Case Against Luke Mitchell'

'What Happened To Charlene Downes?'

'Who Killed Billie-Jo?'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices