“We begged for years, but the help wasn’t there”

The sister of a man who took his own life after struggling with mental health issues for years has said he was “completely lacking in care and compassion”.

Terry White – a father of two from Basildon – was 36 when he died in 2019. His death is one of more than 2,000 psychiatric deaths in Essex who are the subject of Lampard’s public inquiry.

Mr White’s sister, Emma Harley, said the family had been “begging for help for years…”[but] it wasn’t there; We faced a wall at every turn.”

The trust responsible for mental health care in Essex has apologized to those left behind and said there had been improvements.

“He was full of energy and bouncing off the walls – he was so much fun to be around,” Emma said of her younger brother.

“He used to get himself into trouble a lot… but everyone loved him, everyone wanted to spend time with him.”

Ms. Harley said Terry’s neurodivergence and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] The diagnosis went undiagnosed until he was a teenager due to a general lack of understanding of mental health at the time.

Speaking to the BBC before giving evidence to the Lampard inquiry, she said that her brother, unable to get the help he needed, resorted to illegal drugs to self-medicate.

Mr. White attempted to end his life several times. At the penultimate attempt, his sister said his request not to be released from Basildon Hospital was met with a lack of compassion.

“I heard it [the receptionist] Say: “As I told you, sir, there’s nothing else we can do – if you don’t leave, we’ll call security,” Ms Harley said.

“That sums up the level of compassion he displayed throughout his life.”

Mid & South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basildon Hospital, offered its “sincere condolences” to Terry’s family and said it had “changed the way we support people with mental health problems”.

Ms Harley described the call telling her Terry had died as someone she had been waiting for “since he was a teenager – I knew it would come one day”.

“I still feel guilty about not being able to save him,” she told the BBC, adding that she was angry and frustrated that her brother was not offered therapy, a mentor or a key worker as a sole point of contact, and said that with that help he might still be alive.

Emma said several opportunities were missed but her brother received no help or compassion from police or medical services.

“He ticked all the boxes for being the most at-risk of suicide, but no one ever saw it – he was completely disappointed,” she said.

“He was simply dismissed as a drug addict and his mental health was never seriously considered.”

Ms Harley’s evidence at the Lampard Inquiry was heard in the final two days of the fifth series of hearings.

The inquiry is examining the deaths of more than 2,000 people in Essex who used mental health services between 2000 and 2023.

“There has to be real, radical and lasting change… we all know that has to happen after this.” [inquiry]said Ms. Harley.

“The focus may be on Essex, but this needs to spark change across the country.”

Baroness Lampard has repeatedly expressed her intention that her recommendations following the inquiry will be implemented and has set up a forum to ensure that – probably the first public inquiry to take such an action.

Priya Singh, a partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, who is representing Ms Harley and more than 120 victims and families at the inquiry, told the BBC that Terry White and his family were “terribly disappointed”… [and] repeatedly ignored, with tragic consequences.”

Paul Scott, chief executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust – which runs mental health services in Essex – said his thoughts were with Mr White’s family.

“As the investigation progresses there will be many reports of people who have been deeply loved and missed over the last 24 years and I would like to express how sorry I am for their loss,” he said.

“All of us in healthcare have a responsibility to work together to improve care and treatment for everyone and to build on the improvements that have already been made over the last 24 years.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said it was “committed” to supporting the Lampard inquiry, which “will play an important role in identifying wider evidence for the health system”.

A government spokesman said it was transforming mental health services across the UK, supported by £688 million in funding this year, including investing £26 million in new mental health crisis centers and hiring more staff.

Essex Police said it supported the Lampard investigation “and we are committed to taking into account any findings raised by the investigation once the investigation has concluded”.

The next hearings in the Lampard inquiry will take place in February 2026.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, you can get help and support at BBC Action Line.