Mother's Plea Ignored: Daughter Dies in Mental Facility

The mother of 12-year-old Mia Lucas, who died by suicide weeks after being admitted to Sheffield's Becton Centre, has told an inquest her concerns for her daughter's safety were disregarded. Mia was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and tragically found unresponsive in January of last year.

Despite repeated self-harm attempts and the mother's pleas, Mia's observations were deemed insufficient, and safety concerns were not adequately addressed. New blood test results confirmed Mia suffered from autoimmune encephalitis, a treatable brain inflammation that caused her severe psychiatric symptoms, suggesting her death could have been prevented if diagnosed and treated earlier.

The family had sought help for Mia, who was experiencing hallucinations and voices, leading to her transfer to the Becton Centre from Nottingham. The inquest continues to examine the circumstances surrounding Mia's death and the care she received at the facility.