Hundreds of tributes have poured in for a dad who was found dead in the trailer of his lorry.
Drew Howe, who lived in Widnes, died on October 19 last year. He was found in the back of his vehicle on the A18 in Lincolnshire after taking his own life, an inquest heard.
Friends of the 26-year-old previously told the ECHO that Drew was someone "would do anything for you". Assistant coroner Chris Morris said at the inquest that he would raise concerns with a mental health trust following Drew's experiences of being "passed from pillar to post" as he tried to get help.
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Hundreds of condolences from ECHO readers have flooded in for Drew, as well as messages of support for his family. Writing on the ECHO's Facebook page, Michelle Slack said: "My heart goes out to his family and friends so very sad god bless this young man may he rest in peace."
Clare Louise Watson added: "Such a sad story that's way too common these days. Men, women, children, all suffering with mental health issues and having to wait way too long for any type of substantial help. Sending my deepest condolences to his loved ones and children that have lost such an important person in their lives."
Caroline Byrne also said: "This is so sad heartbreaking, poor man, so young to go at the age of 26 rest in peace. Thinking of your friends and family at this sad time."
Pat McClellan added: "So sad and heartbreaking RIP. My thought and prayers with the family."
Drew joined the Army in 2015, before being posted to the Queen's Royal Hussars the following year. He was never deployed operationally abroad, but spent four years in the forces before his discharge in 2019, the MEN reports.
Drew received hospital treatment after having a "breakdown" while in the forces and later told professionals he believed he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as anxiety and depression. However no formal diagnosis was ever made.
He then began working as an HGV driver but the inquest heard there was a "dramatic deterioration" in his mental health last summer. He told family members including his sister, Keata Howe, he was feeling depressed while also seeking help from mental health services in Stockport, where he was born.
The hearing was told there were "at least two other occasions" when he had been taken to hospital in Lincolnshire after "reporting intentions to take his life."
Helplines and support groups
The NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks for people to talk to.
- Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
- Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won't show up on your phone bill.
- PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
- Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity based in England providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
- Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.
- Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
Young Persons Advisory Service provides mental health and emotional wellbeing services for Liverpool’s children, young people and families. tel: 0151 707 1025 email: support@ypas.org.uk
British Red Cross offers a free and confidential coronavirus support line on 0808 196 3651 which offers callers the opportunity to speak to a friendly volunteer for a chat if they are lonely, worried or need practical support, 7 days a week from 10am to 6pm, or email supportline@redcross.org.uk
Fighting back tears in the witness box, his sister Keata, said: "Just a few months before he did what he did he came out and told us he was feeling depressed and he needed help and we did what we could to help him."
She added: "But he never talked about what he was going through. I never saw him as having depression. Every time I saw him he seemed dead bubbly, he was always laughing and joking around. He was a joker."
Following a consultation with his GP in August last year, Mr Howe was referred to what was then Healthy Minds service for potential talking therapies. Staff deemed him to be "not stable enough" for such therapy and referred him to the access team run by Pennine Care NHS Foundation trust, based at Stepping Hill hospital, which assessed him on October, 13, six days before his death.
Following a consultation with a psychiatrist, nurses referred him on once more, to a specialist Military Veterans Service run by the trust. Mr Howe was awaiting an assessment at the time of his death and a referral was received eight days after his death.
He was discharged by the access team without a formal diagnosis or treatment plan being drawn up, the hearing was told. Toxicology tests found there was an 'extremely low' level of alcohol, and no illicit drugs, in his system.
Close friend Adam Bellis previously told the ECHO: "I met him about two and half, three years ago. I just met him through the trucks basically. We parked up in the same place one night and the lads I was with at the time that I knew, knew Drew and he just came to the pub with us all and it went from there.
"We hit it off and became best mates." He added: "It's such a shock to us all because he was such a bubbly character and he was dead lively all the time"
Assistant coroner Chris Morris concluded it was most likely Mr Howe's "circumstances didn't fit neatly within the paradigm in which services were being offered.",
He told the hearing: "I can only imagine he felt passed from pillar to post having recounted his difficulties on a number of occasions."
Mr Morris said there was an "absence of critical analysis" in an investigation report carried out by Pennine Care particularly around "the delivery of services from patients' perspective." And he described it as a "missed opportunity" to learn all available lessons.
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