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Mental health trust is ‘worst in the country’
Katie Davies
FRIENDS of Damien Hirst's godmother, who committed suicide in May, have begun a pavement protest against Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust.
Margaret Walsh, a writer and poet, was found dead in her flat in Dennington Park Road in West Hampstead on May 9.
An inquest held last week at St Pancras Coroner's Court revealed that her death was due to an overdose of alcohol and medication.
But her friends are angry with the way she was treated by mental health services and have pledged to campaign outside the court every day for the next nine months.
Brenda Williams, a poet from St John's Wood, said: "At the inquest I was hoping something about the way she was handled by the trust would emerge, that the coroner would investigate more.
"There was a delay in getting to her and getting help but it wasn't investigated.
"Margaret told the crisis team she was desperate for a bed in the Royal Free Hospital, but they follow this rule of keeping everyone in their homes.
"I suffer from depression and I know that is the worst place to be because you feel more and more depressed and alone there.
"I think she expected to be found but when the care workers did get the police to break in it was too late. She was full of life, she suffered with depression but she knew when she needed a bed.
"People are dying in Camden because of these crisis teams and no one is doing anything.
"Previously when she was ill she went to day hospital and it always brought her round. But Camden is closing these down too. All her friends feel the same both those with mental health problems and those without."
Ms Walsh, who openly criticised the work of her artist godson, had survived two previous suicide attempts.
The most recent one led to care workers visiting her at her home daily.
Ms Williams' ex-husband Barry Tebb, who is also protesting, said: "Camden has the highest suicide rate in the UK, if Margaret had been in a ward she wouldn't have died.
"I think it is the worst mental health trust in the country. Being visited by a care worker doesn't work
"Margaret was a very talented woman. She had a play at the Tricycle Theatre and she could have gone to Oxford when she was younger. She was a great character and very energetic.
"They have this very silly idea that all these people should have jobs and be in the community but they are at the extreme end of psychotic illness and they should be taken care of."
katie.davies@hamhigh.co.uk
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