A young woman penned heartfelt letters to her loved ones before tragically taking her own life after years of struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide.
Beth Williams, 23, from Birkenhead, was found dead in her bed at around 5.30pm on March 7 2022. The mum-of-one, who worked as a nursery nurse, was last seen by her mum Tracey the previous evening after returning from a day out with her three-year-old son.
The following morning Tracey went to work, and when she returned to the family home at 5.20pm she was told by her visiting son that her daughter was sleeping in her bedroom.
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She said: "The bedroom door was fully open and I could see Beth in her bed. She looked like she was asleep. I shouted her name but she did not respond. I went over and shook her. She was pale, and she had foam coming out of her mouth."
The family called 999, and Beth was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at 5.40pm.
At her inquest today, September 22, coroner Joseph Hart heard investigating police found empty packets of non-prescription drugs and medication belonging to Beth's parents in the young mum's room, along with a hand-written list of her closest friends entitled 'friends I want at my funeral'.
Envelopes addressed to her loved ones were also found.
A post-mortem examination found she died of combined drug toxicity - an overdose caused the combined effects of several different drugs. Beth, a former Wirral Metropolitan College student, had a long history of depression, anxiety and PTSD, and had been known to several mental health services, the court heard.
In April 2021, she took an overdose, and was subsequently seen by a mental health nurse from the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership, who noted her mental health had been in steady decline for six months, and that she needed support from the crisis team.
Handing down a conclusion of suicide, Mr Hart said: "I find as a fact that, given the empty packets of medication and the combined drug toxicity, and no other explanation as to how Beth came to have these high levels of drugs in her system, that she took a combination of drugs.
"Given the evidence of the notes that clearly refer to her impending death, and plans for a funeral therafter, and the Google search history, and the history of suicidal ideation, I find as a fact that her intention in taking those drugs was to end her own life.
"It's not necessary for me to question Beth's reasons for doing so.
"It's abundantly clear from the evidence before me, and from all of the notes, that she was an eloquent, intelligent, bright young woman. She had a fulfilling job as a nursery nurse. She had a loving relationship with her family, with whom she lived. That's attested to in the warm way she writes to her mother and father.
"She had a three-year-old son and I have heard that shortly before her death she had enjoyed a good day out with him."
A fundraiser for the mental health charity Mind, set up by Tracey in memory of her daughter, brought in £1,869.
Addressing Beth's parents, he added: "The judgement of this court, to the two of you, is just words. Please don't remember this room, please don't remember my judgement. Please don't remember a death certificate that says 'suicide' on it. Please do remember Beth.
"If I, a total stranger reading the brief pieces of paper that set out the circumstances of her death, can see what a loving, vital young woman she was then you must have the happiest of memories of her. You have my sincerest condolences."
- Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
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