Reactions to the verdict

At the end of the inquest hearing the coroner (or the jury if there is one) reaches a verdict (also see ‘The Inquest’). Most of the people we talked to seemed satisfied with the verdict (see for example, comments made by Dave below), but others would have liked a different outcome. For example, one man felt a stigma attached to a verdict of 'suicide whilst the balance of the mind was disturbed' and would have preferred an 'open' verdict. He accepted the verdict of suicide but not the implication that his son’s mind was disturbed at the time. He said that suicide might even be seen as a brave act, and that we have no idea what was going on in his head.

Patricia’s husband, Andrew, had had depression for years. A number of times he had taken an overdose or tried to gas himself and then sought help. In 1994 he died in a car, due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Patricia found support via Cruse & SOBS.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Helen - Interview 6 >> Waiting nine months for the inquest gave Helen time to be calmer and to prepare for what she wanted to say about her daughter’s death.

Helen’s daughter, Charlotte, had mental health problems. When Charlotte was 30 she was found dead in her flat. She may have taken an overdose or may have taken her own life. Helen has been well supported. She also finds comfort by helping homeless people.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Dave - Interview 34 >> The coroner’s officer prepared Dave and his wife for what might happen at their son’s inquest.

Dave’s son, Ben, was aged 21 when he developed mental health problems. In 2003 Ben took his own life by crashing his car. Dave was devastated. He has found some help for his grief by seeing a psychiatrist and by going to Compassionate Friends.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Lucreta - Interview 39 >> Lucreta had to answer questions at the inquest hearing for her 18 year old daughter. Although the verdict was suicide she felt accused and said it had

In 1996, Lucreta’s daughter, Dionne (also called Dominique), jumped to her death. She was 18 when she died. Lucreta had no idea that Dionne had been so unhappy, and was shocked by her death. Lucreta has found support from friends, her church, her GP, and counsellors.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a partner, husband or wife >> Lucy - Interview 38 >> At the inquest Lucy learnt that her partner had been spotted around the railway line several times before he died there. He appeared to have planned h

Lucy’s partner, Darrell, committed suicide in 2005. He drove his car in front of a train. He had been depressed but his suicide was a complete shock to Lucy. She has found support through family and friends and via an online group, Widowed by Suicide.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Dave - Interview 34 >> Dave believes that the coroner’s verdict of 'suicide' was correct. He is convinced that Ben’s death was not an accident and that the mental health tru

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a brother or sister >> Nina - Interview 11 >> Nina’s family found it hard to accept the coroner’s verdict of suicide. When the family objected the inquest hearing was adjourned but the coroner dec

In 1999, Nina was shocked to hear that her brother, Joe, was in intensive care. He was aged 16. He had been found unconscious, hanging from a tree. He died three days later. Nina has found most support from friends, family, counsellors and SOBS.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a brother or sister >> Jasvinder - Interview 18 >> Jasvinder fought to have her sister’s inquest re-opened. She was glad when the coroner substituted an 'open' verdict.

Jasvinder’s sister, Robina, died in 1987 from burns. She had an unhappy marriage and told her husband she was going to take her own life. Jasvinder has kept her sister’s memory alive by setting up Karma Nirvana, a project that advocates for Asian people.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Bob - Interview 17 >> It was an 'open' verdict. Bob thinks a verdict of suicide would have been better because he believes Darren took his own life and that accurate figure

In 1998 Bob’s son, Darren, died while on holiday in France. He died by hanging and the French police were sure it was suicide. Bob and his wife were shocked. They have found support via Compassionate Friends, SOBS and the internet group Parents of Suicide.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a parent >> Ted - Interview 19 >> Ted thought that the inquest hearing was handled very professionally. Having looked at the records of what happened he does not share his mother’s per

Ted was 12 years old when his father took his own life by hanging. Ted’s family found it hard to talk about it and Ted lacked information. He felt intense grief during that first year. Ted has found help by researching his father’s life and through SOBS.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a partner, husband or wife >> Stephen - Interview 31 >> Stephen believes that his wife’s medical care was “supremely deficient”. He had hoped that the inquest would address the care she received, but it cha

In June 2006 Stephen returned home to find his wife, Gill, hanging in the hallway. She had been diagnosed with severe depression. Stephen found help from family, friends & Cruse. His daughters have been helped by the Charity, See Saw.

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