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Paramedic's Plea for Mental Health Support Ignored
24 Mar
Summary
- Trainee paramedic struggled with bipolar disorder and mental health support.
- She reportedly begged for help at a trust clinic but was threatened.
- A note indicated she saw no end to her struggles.
A tragic inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding the believed suicide of 24-year-old trainee paramedic Rebecca McLellan. Miss McLellan, who struggled with bipolar disorder, reportedly faced significant barriers when seeking crucial mental health support from the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).
Despite receiving therapy through her work, which ended after 18 sessions, Miss McLellan expressed in a written statement that the NHS trust failed to contact her. She recounted an incident where she went to the trust's clinic in Ipswich begging for help, only to be warned that police might be called if she did not leave.
Her mother described Rebecca as a once-sunny child who took her bipolar diagnosis poorly. A psychotherapist who saw her offered free sessions due to concerns about her risk, and she also saw a consultant psychiatrist. However, her handwritten letter indicated a deep despair, stating she could no longer see an end to her suffering.
Friends became concerned when Miss McLellan did not arrive for work on November 20, 2023, leading to the discovery of her death at her flat. The NSFT, which has a history of 'inadequate' ratings from the Care Quality Commission, stated it was investigating the death, aiming to learn from the incident to improve safety.
