A-Level Student Dies by Suicide After Mental Health Struggles, Inquest Hears

A 17-year-old A-level student died by suicide at her sixth form college after experiencing mental health difficulties throughout her teenage years, an inquest has heard.

Lauren Jackson was found unresponsive in a toilet cubicle at Richard Huish College in Somerset in February at the start of the school day. A PE teacher discovered her and, with the help of other staff members, cut her down and began CPR before emergency services were called. An air ambulance landed on the college's playing fields to take her to intensive care.

Doctors advised Lauren's parents that she had suffered a hypoxic brain injury and had a high chance of not surviving. She died two days later with her family at her bedside.

Lauren's mother, Estelle Jackson, stated that her daughter had become increasingly withdrawn during her teenage years and rarely communicated with her parents. However, in the days leading up to her death, Lauren had booked driving lessons and appeared to be planning for university after completing her A-levels.

Medical records indicated that Lauren had reported mental health concerns since the age of 14, including panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and intrusive thoughts. She had also self-harmed previously. Lauren was referred to mental health support and engaged with professionals from mental health and children's services on approximately 33 occasions. She was prescribed the antidepressant sertraline, with her dosage eventually increasing to 150mg daily.

By January, a month before her death, Lauren informed her key worker that the medication's effectiveness was diminishing. In a face-to-face meeting, she was described as "shivering, crying and feeling unsafe." Dr. Arjuna Pattapola listed Lauren's conditions as emotional dysregulation, attachment difficulties, disrupted sleep and eating patterns, panic attacks, psychosomatic complaints, and challenges interacting with peers and family.

Matthew Nolan, the college's safeguarding lead, stated in a written statement that Lauren had spoken about wanting to die and had sometimes described how she might do so. He added that Lauren regularly visited his office, crying and shaking, and expressing that she was struggling.

Dr. Daniel Shuttleworth, a consulting manager in the Intensive Care Unit, confirmed that Lauren's heart was restarted, but she did not respond to stimuli and never regained consciousness. He determined the cause of death to be a hypoxic brain injury resulting from suspension.

Following her death, a friend of Lauren's reported that Lauren had confided in her about a childhood sexual assault. However, a police investigation into Lauren's diaries revealed two entries that contradicted this claim. In one entry, she wrote: "I have suppressed feelings of guilt as I feel I have lied about being sexually abused as a cry for attention." Another entry stated: "I have never been sexually abused."

Assistant Coroner Vanessa McKinlay recorded a verdict of suicide, describing Lauren's death as an unimaginable loss to her family, friends, college staff, and fellow students. She noted that Lauren had struggled to engage with therapy, despite regular sessions with her key worker and multiple meetings with psychologists. "No one could have seen what Lauren was going to do on that day," Ms. McKinlay added.

For confidential support, call Samaritans for free on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support.