Mum With Money Problems ‘took Her Own Life While Children Were At School After Gp Found She Wasn’t Suicidal’

A MUM with money problems took her own life while her children were at school after a GP ruled she wasn’t suicidal, an inquest heard.

Amy Manning, 32, was discovered dead in her Somerset home by her police officer partner, who had come round to check on her.

Facebook/Amy ManningAmy Manning took her own life while her children were at school[/caption]

Taunton Coroner’s Court heard the mum-of-two was in financial difficulty at the time of her death in January last year.

But Amy had been working with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to get to grips with her money problems.

The inquest also heard she was diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) and had been using alcohol and cocaine before her death.

Her family said the hairdresser’s mental health had started to deteriorate during the Covid lockdown.

They told the court she fell pregnant but “did not feel able to raise the child” while under emotional and financial stress and sought an abortion.

Her GP said Amy had “chronic suicidal thoughts” but was not considered “actively suicidal” because her desire to remain alive for her children was considered a “protective factor”.

Susan Hawker, a psychiatric nurse with the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said the mum was facing significant financial problems, had failed to pay her rent and had never paid a water bill.

But she also confirmed she did not believe Amy was suicidal and said she was “shocked” when she discovered she was dead.

Giving evidence, Amy’s partner Sam Plumley said their on-off relationship was “difficult” before her death as she had begun drinking more and was struggling with her mental health.

He told how the pair had been texting the night before the tragedy and had no concerns for her welfare.

The following morning, he went to Amy’s home when she failed to respond to his messages and discovered the mum dead in her bedroom.

He said he laid Amy on the bed and “hugged her” while he waited for paramedics to arrive.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Amy’s death.

They also found nothing “sufficiently alarming that leads us to believe any criminal offence or anything undue was done by Sam”.

Assistant Coroner Stephen Cavell recorded a verdict of suicide.

He said Amy had a good relationship with her family, was a committed mother and had a good work ethic but noted her EUPD diagnosis.

The coroner said the disorder was associated with compulsive behaviour, which may have been exacerbated by her use of alcohol and cocaine.

He concluded that under the influence of alcohol and drugs and facing financial and emotional stress, Amy made the “impulsive” decision to take her own life.

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If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.

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Facebook/Amy ManningAmy was found by her partner Sam Plumley[/caption] Facebook/Amy ManningThe mum had been struggling financially[/caption]