The grieving children of a jeweller who killed his wife before taking his own life have said their father was failed by a 'broken' mental health system, leading to an 'entirely avoidable' tragedy.
A Rapid and Critical Deterioration
The bodies of Christopher Stone-Houghton, 66, and his wife Ruth, 60, were discovered at their home in Holcot Lane, Portsmouth, on September 14, 2022. A pre-inquest review heard that Christopher died as a result of suspension, while Ruth suffered a fatal head injury.
Coroner Rachel Spearing KC stated that Christopher had been suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, with a 'rapid and critical deterioration' in his mental state. She confirmed there was no evidence of domestic abuse in the case.
The couple's children, Oliver and Abbie Stone-Houghton, believe their father experienced a severe psychotic episode. They say both parents lost their lives 'to poor mental health', a direct result of systemic failures in his care.
Systemic Failures in Care Highlighted
Christopher Stone-Houghton's mental health declined sharply following the closure in April 2022 of the family jewellery business he had run for two decades and been part of for over 50 years. The COVID-19 pandemic had already eroded his social support networks and placed immense strain on the business.
He was diagnosed with psychotic depression in June 2022 and was detained under the Mental Health Act after a suicide attempt in July. Despite his family's objections, he was discharged from the care of Solent NHS Trust's mental health services on August 2, 2022, just six weeks before the tragedy.
A subsequent multi-agency report was highly critical of the care he received. It found the tragedy could have been prevented and noted that additional treatment was either denied or delayed. Shockingly, he was deemed ineligible for a specific service he needed because he had turned 66. A scheduled visit was also cancelled days before he and his wife were found dead.
A Family's Heartbreak and a Call for Change
Ahead of the full inquest scheduled for this month, Oliver and Abbie have spoken out about their devastating loss and the fight they faced to get their father adequate help.
'We couldn't have wished for better parents,' Oliver said. 'Both our parents lost their lives to poor mental health, which we believe was entirely avoidable had Dad's condition been managed better.'
He added, 'We thought that once Dad was finally in the system, he'd be okay... but ultimately, we learnt that you need to fight for them every step of the way.'
Abbie urged vigilance, stating: 'By speaking out, we want other people to notice the signs of ill mental health earlier and keep asking for help until it's taken seriously. It really could happen to anyone.'
The inquest will also examine the monitoring of Mr Stone-Houghton's gun licence, although no firearm was involved in the incident. The family continues to seek answers and hopes their story will prevent similar future failures in mental health provision.
