A heartbroken mother has said her 13-year-old daughter might still be alive if her cries for help had been taken seriously. Ella Louise Murray, from Kent, took her own life in July 2021 after being repeatedly failed by mental health services.
Ella told teachers she 'wanted to kill herself' and was taken to hospital, where she informed a paediatric nurse she would end her life if sent home. She was referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), assessed as 'medium risk', and discharged with a home treatment plan. The following day, a mental health nurse visited and Ella again expressed suicidal intent, saying she would 'hurt herself or others' if she stayed at home. Despite this, she was not admitted to hospital.
After the nurse left, Ella attempted to take her own life and was airlifted to King's College Hospital in London, where she died the next day. An inquest found a 'clear failure' to keep her safe, with area coroner Catherine Wood stating it was 'incredible' that a risk assessment was not completed. She said Ella should have been classified as high risk and admitted to a mental health ward.
Ella's mother, Natalie, said: 'Losing a child is something I will never get over. If she felt like someone was helping her, maybe she would not have given up hope.' She has since completed training in mental health and suicide awareness, and is campaigning for better support for children in crisis.
A friend of Ella's, Daisy Sunley, has launched a government petition calling for mandatory suicide risk assessments for any child in hospital care who reports intent to self-harm or suicidal thoughts. The petition aims to prevent similar tragedies.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This is a heartbreaking case. It is vital that we improve services to prevent such tragedies in the future,' highlighting plans for Mental Health Act reforms and investment in the NHS mental health workforce.
