An inquest has opened into the tragic death of a 12-year-old girl who passed away just weeks after being admitted to a specialist children's mental health facility in Sheffield.
A Short Period of Illness
Mia Lucas died at The Becton Centre in January 2024, only four weeks after her mother, Chloe Lucas, first sought urgent help for her daughter's deteriorating mental state.
The 33-year-old mother had initially taken Mia to Queens Medical Centre in their home city, where doctors diagnosed the schoolgirl as suffering from an acute psychotic episode.
Following this assessment, Mia was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and transferred to the specialist unit for treatment.
A Mother's Heartbreak
Earlier this year, Mia's distraught mother shared her profound grief, stating that her daughter had always been a happy child before her sudden decline.
"Mia was always such a happy girl, and she was unwell for such a short period of her life," Chloe Lucas said. "She didn't need to die and with the right care and treatment, she could have got better."
The coroner's investigation will now examine the circumstances surrounding Mia's death and the care she received during her brief time at the facility.
This remains a developing story as the inquest continues to uncover the details of this heartbreaking case involving child mental health services.
