A teenage girl who was found hanged dialled 999 over fears ‘she couldn’t keep herself safe’ months before her death.
Callie Smith was found dead on the Kirklees Trail in Bury in the early hours of June 10 of last year.
An inquest into her death has heard she had struggled with mental health issues for many years and previously attempted a number of overdoses.
Following one attempt in March 2019, Callie was taken to A&E before being admitted to the Irwell Unit at Fairfield Hospital.
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She was discharged after three-and-a-half weeks but, in February of last year – four months before her death – she phoned for an ambulance amid concerns she may harm herself.
After arriving at A&E, she was found to have superficial scratches to her arm and was assessed by a mental health nurse.
A referral was made to Healthy Minds in Bury and Callie was due to attend an appointment on June 22 – less than two weeks after her death.
On the second day of the inquest at Rochdale Coroner’s Court, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley heard that following the overdose in March 2019, Callie reported having felt ‘low for several months’.
Dr Adeola Akinola, a consultant psychiatrist, told the hearing that Callie was unable to say why she had taken the overdose.
He added: “She said she had had suicidal thoughts but had never acted on them before, and that the overdose had not been planned and was something she did impulsively.”
(Image: Family handout)
Dr Akinola said the initial plan was for Callie to remain in hospital for around a week or two.
He said arrangements were also put in place to help her find accommodation ahead of being discharged as ‘going back home was not an option’.
Throughout her time on the unit, Dr Akinola said Callie mostly remained ‘settled’ and was allowed several periods of leave.
On one occasion, he said Callie’s mother, Vanessa O’Neill, contacted the hospital to express concerns that her daughter had been using drugs while away from the hospital.
However, Dr Akinola said there were no such concerns among staff.
On March 23, Callie returned to the hospital ‘heavily intoxicated’ after drinking a large amount of alcohol.
The inquest heard she told nurses ‘she did not want to be here’ and, when asked what she had meant, replied: “Being alive.”
While in hospital, Callie received a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder.
(Image: MEN MEDIA)
Dr Akinola said she became ‘unhappy’ after learning the diagnosis had also been discussed with her mother, so withdrew consent for doctors to speak to her.
After learning Callie was due to be discharged, the inquest heard Ms O’Neill attended the hospital to express her concern.
James Staniland, a mental health nurse on the Irwell Unit, carried out an assessment of Callie prior to her being discharged.
He told the inquest that Callie revealed she was ‘still feeling low’, but said she did not have any plans to end her life.
He said he had ‘no concerns’ about her and arranged for a follow-up appointment to take place within seven days.
Callie was also encouraged to make a referral to Healthy Minds, but ‘failed to engage’.
After being discharged the next day, Callie moved in with her sister.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Later that day, she attended the A&E department at Fairfield Hospital while ‘intoxicated’ but left before being seen.
Samantha Doherty, manager of Bury Home Treatment Team, said a follow-up appointment was arranged with Callie four days after her discharge. However, she failed to attend.
The inquest also heard from Dr Micheal Kirka, a consultant psychiatrist who saw Callie on two occasions – in April and June of 2019.
During the first appointment, he said Callie reported ‘feeling empty’, struggling to sleep, and experiencing ‘on and off suicidal thoughts’.
“She had a lot of insight and understanding into her feelings,” Dr Kirka added.
“She was open to exploring and going deeper into these emotions and understanding them.”
When he next saw Callie, he said she felt ‘in a more stable place’ and believed she was making progress in her life.
After missing an appointment in December 2019, Dr Kirka told the hearing that Callie received a letter from Healthy Minds to say she was being discharged from the service.
Two months later, she turned up at A&E having called for an ambulance as she feared ‘she could not keep herself safe’.
Susan Griffiths, a mental health nurse who assessed Callie at Fairfield, told the inquest she had seemed ‘jovial’ and discussed plans to go to university.
She added that Callie had expressed concerns that she may have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and agreed for a referral to be made to Healthy Minds.
The hearing was told she was due to attend an appointment on June 22 – less than two weeks after her body was found by a passer-by.
The inquest continues.
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