CASEOF SARAH LAWSON
SANE, the mental health charity, today commented on the caseof Sarah Lawson, whose father has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the groundsof diminished responsibility. Sarah, with a long history of depression and attemptedsuicide, died following discharge from hospital despite having tried to killherself.
Marjorie Wallace, SANEs Chief Executive, said:
It is unforgivable that such a tragedy should be allowed tohappen. This case echoes many of the thousand calls a week we receive fromindividuals enduring the torments of mental pain who are being turned away, andfamilies driven to the same flashpoint of despair. One in seven people withserious mental illness will take their own lives - sadly, most are left to gothrough the final moments of anguish alone.
People like Sarah, if given consistent care, time andspace, and their families supported, can respond to treatment. No-one should beturned away from hospital or left to feel as angry and hopeless as Sarah did inthe face of services which did not help her.
The way in which people like Sarah are failed and theirfamilies often dismissed cannot continue. People with mental illness have aright to care and treatment, and families deserve the respect to be heard. SANEwould support a case brought under the Human Rights Act or, if that wereunsuccessful, an application to the European Court of Human Rights.
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Note for Editors
SANEsnational telephone helpline SANELINE is open from 12 noon to 2.00am every dayof the year on 0845 767 8000, providing help to everyone affected by mentalillness.