A former Liverpool student fell "in with the wrong crowd" at university.
An inquest heard Faye Duerden was just 29 when she took her own life at her home in east Hull on May 26, 2022. The hearing was told the young artist had battled with her mental health and was released from a mental health facility a few months earlier.
But, despite progressing well, on the day she died Ms Duerden was said to have been "depressed and struggling", HullLive reports. A carer came around to take her to the pharmacy and she ran out in front of traffic twice - but this was never reported to the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust’s mental health team or her family.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman murder trial updates as defence witness gives evidence
Just hours later, the former University of Liverpool student, who had aspirations to become a therapist, took her own life. Her grieving family are now hoping lessons can be learned from her tragic death.
Dad Mark Duerden said he believes her mental health issues began when she started an undergraduate degree at the University of Liverpool as she "fell in with a group of people who were doing drugs". Having received treatment in Liverpool for three months, the student was then moved to a mental health facility in Hull before moving into assisted living.
Paying tribute to his much-loved daughter, he said: "Faye was so determined and, when she was well, she was such a bubbly character. Faye was always so caring, helpful and selfless.
"I remember when she was 13 and I had gone through a terrible divorce she dragged me to see Shrek which I didn’t want to go and see. But I have never laughed so much in my life. I now realise I do not think she wanted to go so much for her sake as me. She was interested in anything to do with art and was very talented. She loved to draw and write poetry. She liked anything creative which helped with her mental health."
Despite suffering with mental illness for ten years Faye, who loved her dog Leo, eventually got her degree at the University of Hull and her dad says she could have gone far if she hadn’t suffered from having an emotionally unstable personality disorder and schizoaffective disorder.
Mr Duerden raised concerns about his daughter's treatment and how it took nine weeks for her to receive the support she needed after her release from hospital. He added: "We were frustrated as Faye would make good progress in the hospital but in release she would get no support and there would be pandemonium.
"This would happen often and just increase the stress for her and the family. She was at her most vulnerable after release from the hospital but that was the time when she wouldn’t get the support she needed. It took nine weeks to get the care package in place and it felt like she was back to square one.
“Individually, everyone involved with Faye’s care did their absolute best but there is so much red tape and not enough money or resources. It is not about the nurses or doctors but the politicians that are not providing the funds needed. It is too late for Faye now, she’s gone. But maybe something could be done for the future.”
On May 26 last year, care worker Sibanda Sikhangezile visited in the morning and took Ms Duerden to the pharmacy, but the inquest heard she "wasn't in a good mood". In a statement Ms Sikhangezile said: "She said she was depressed and I asked her why. She told me she felt useless."
She added twice,Ms Duerden walked into the road, into the path of a car, as she said: "I then had to take her arm to stop her from running into traffic again. I left at 12.50pm and she said she was going to get some sleep. I came back that evening at around 5.50pm and I found her in the bedroom and called for an ambulance."
The hearing heard how Ms Duerden received assisted living as part of her care package and lived in private accommodation. But she would receive community and social care as well as medical care including education, hobbies and career objectives.
Occupational therapist and day care coordinator Claire Cockayne said the 29-year-old had been "making good progress" and began to need crisis support less and less. Explaining why there was a delay in her care package, she said: "It should always be implemented as soon as possible but it can take time to get the funding in place and then put her care package out for tender."
The hearing heard how Ms Duerden often expressed suicidal thoughts but prior to her death she was "really positive and had plans for the future".
Dr Mahdu Gulati, a consultant psychiatrist involved in Ms Duerden's care, said emotionally unstable personality disorder can result in people displaying riskier behaviour, meaning their mood can fluctuate. While schizoaffective disorder can be managed with medication, the personality disorder is better treated by providing other methods like distraction therapy.
Dr Gulati added delays in care packages was an "issue" across the country and she believes her behaviour on the morning she died should have been reported. She said: "I think Faye’s behaviour that morning should have been flagged up. We would have likely contacted her that day and we would also have informed the family."
Recording a conclusion of suicide, senior coroner Paul Marks accepted the mental health trust and Ms Duerden's family should have been alerted to her behaviour on the morning of the day she died, but cannot say if it would've prevented her death. Giving a cause of death as hanging, he added: "In this case, the means by which Faye took her own life indicated there was intent."
The family has since created a memorial garden to honour their daughter with a bench and cherry tree. They also plan to add an engraving on a plaque Faye created of her pet Leo. The fundraising page can be found here.
READ NEXT:
Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Furious resident films taxi driver 'urinating in front garden'
Trains cancelled and road closed as car crashes into level crossing barriers
Updates from police cordon as man dead and woman arrested for murder
Mango shoppers desperate to buy 'stunning' midi dress they 'need'
