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Ex-teacher died in leap from window
THE husband of a former political advisor to politician Tony Benn took his life after struggling with depression, a coroner ruled last Thursday.
Retired teacher Brian Morrell, 73, died from multiple injuries in March after throwing himself from a window at his Hemingford Road home in Barnsbury, a St Pancras inquest heard.
His wife Frances, 71, who was at home at the time of his death, did not attend the inquest, although his family wrote a letter to the coroner asking to be kept informed of the outcome.
Mrs Morrell worked for Tony Benn in 1974 when he was Energy Minister in a Labour government.
Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone supported her successful bid to win Islington South and Finsbury in the Greater London Council elections in 1981.
Both politicians paid tribute to Mr Morrell at the time of his death in April.
Social worker Martin Loughnane said Mr Morrell had suffered from anxiety and depression. The inquest was told he had been informally admitted to a mental health centre in January.
During meetings with the couple at home, Mrs Morrell had said her husband was struggling to cope but that his mood had improved on anti-depressants.
“She was under stress,” Mr Loughnane added.
Coroner Dr Andrew Reid said: “I am satisfied he was seen at regular interviews. There was clearly a care plan implemented and the evidence was his mood was improving.”
Recording a verdict of suicide, he added: “Mr Morrell acted impulsively but voluntarily and deliberately jumped or intended to fall from the third-floor window.” |
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Your comments:
Somehow the CNJ missed the major story (reported in this week's Ham n'High )of £400,000 awarded to a patient who barely survived a suicide attempt.Cuts to the mental health budget are scandalous-3 day hospitals closed and a swathe of bed reductions.The Trust-as always-denied liability-but the Dept of Health overruled them in court.At a meeting of the council's mental health liaison group last week depressed patients were told to join relaxation groups and take long walks as there are no longer viable provisions to care for them.The disjunctions between real and virtual care in Camden is a scandal and the direct involvement of the Dept of Health shows that its leaders are being watched and that the mysterious departure of Professor David Taylor as Chair has not gone unnoticed.
B. Tebb
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