A talented singer-songwriter championed by the BBC was found dead in her bed alongside her deceased emotional support dog, after telling friends she could not live without him, a coroner's court has heard.
A Bond Broken by Illness
Lyna Galliara, 34, had become inseparable from her Japanese Chin dog, Abu, whom she adopted from the Dogs Trust in 2015 during a period of recovery. Her family told the inquest that the animal's companionship was vital to her wellbeing. However, tragedy began to unfold when Abu developed a progressive cough and required tracheal surgery.
The musician's sister, Tanya, revealed that Lyna's mental health had first become a serious concern in 2014, following a series of emails describing how hard she found life. That same year, she made two or three attempts on her life, including an overdose. After being sectioned, her adoption of Abu had signalled hope.
A System That Failed to Catch Her
The inquest at St Pancras Coroners' Court heard that Ms Galliara's struggles were compounded by body dysmorphia, diagnosed after she broke her nose in 2014, and further grief following her father's death in 2022 and her mother's subsequent illness. Despite her clear need for help, she was repeatedly failed by mental health services.
She was referred to a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist who felt talking therapies were unsuitable. On two separate occasions, referrals to her local Single Point of Access team for urgent support were declined. Her GP was advised to redirect her to talking therapies, but by then Ms Galliara was no longer attending appointments, instead posting dozens of letters to her doctor.
A referral to a community connector – a local support link – was made, but her sister Tanya stated that Lyna's history of disengaging from services was not fully considered. Assistant Coroner Harry Lambert said he was concerned she had 'fallen through the cracks' and was 'being passed from pillar to post,' ultimately left with no treatment at all.
A Tragic Discovery in Hackney
The final breakdown in communication came on June 29 this year, when Tanya and her mother went for a planned monthly meeting at a Hackney hotel. Ms Galliara did not appear. After getting no response at her flat in Hackney, London, they requested a police welfare check.
On June 30, officers forced entry and found Ms Galliara unresponsive in bed, with Abu dead beside her. Police Sergeant Oscar Ashford told the hearing that empty medication packets and pills were at her feet, along with a 'Notice of Will' and a 'Do Not Resuscitate' notice. A neighbour recalled the singer saying that if her dog died, she would end her own life.
In a poignant blog post less than two weeks before her death, Ms Galliara had written of Abu's surgery: 'I hope I'll be able to use this experience to foster the courage I need to overcome more of the fears that have been holding me back in my life for so long now.' Her sister Tanya speculated that Lyna's body dysmorphia may have meant she could not cope with the scarring from Abu's surgery, despite him seeming to recover.
A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was acute respiratory failure due to oxycodone toxicity. Recording a conclusion of suicide, Mr Lambert cited her long history of mental health problems. The case highlights critical gaps in mental health service provision.
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org. Support is also available via the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) at thecalmzone.net.
