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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
David Powell & Graeme Murray

Man takes his own life fearing he'd be mocked after 'failed hair transplant'

A man took his own life after a failed hair transplant.

Gwyndaf Owen reckoned people would 'mock' his decision to get hair implanted if they saw his scars.

An inquest into his death heard he had developed suicidal thoughts after having the procedure in 2004.

He was still troubled by its effects and doctors diagnosed him with body dysmorphic disorder and depression.

WalesOnline reports an inquest heard the 47-year-old farm supervisor, who lived with his mother in in Anglesey, had made two previous attempts on his life.

He had "severely regretted" the procedure, the hearing was told and felt he "did not need it and he should have just shaved his head".

The inquest heard Gwyndaf Owen was given inpatient treatment and community care over the years (Getty Images/Image Source)

After a suicide attempt in 2004, he managed to move on with his life and had improved, b ut last summer his behaviour changed and he began drinking heavily.

The inquest heard Mr Owen was given inpatient treatment and community care over the years.

Dr Julia Taylor, a clinical psychologist for Ynys Mon community health team, was one of those professionals who dealt with his case.

In a statement to the inquest she said: "The unsuccessful hair transplant was the sole life event that Mr Owen could identify as the precursor to his mental health difficulties."

Mr Owen was said to have believed he had scars on his head from the scalpel used in his transplant.

Dr Taylor added: "He believed that other people could see the scars and would mock him if they noticed them."

On October 29 last year, Mr Owen jumped from the Menai Suspension Bridge, dislocating his shoulder, the inquest heard.

A social worker and approved mental health professional, also assessed Mr Owen (Getty Images/Westend61)

He was taken to a unit in Wrexham where he spent 16 days having treatment before being discharged into the care of a home treatment team.

Gwenno Williams, a social worker and approved mental health professional, also assessed Mr Owen. She said in a statement that Mr Owen said he was hearing "negative" voices.

Gareth Owen, Gwyndaf's older brother, told the inquest that on March 8 he became concerned for his brother.

Their mum told him Gwyndaf had gone out on his bike but Gareth looked in the stone-built garden shed and found his brother there.

Gareth said he lay his brother on his back and gave him CPR for 10 minutes until an ambulance crew arrived. He added: "He (a paramedic) said I could stop. He had gone."

PC Rob Williamson said in a statement that he arrived to find Mr Owen "unconscious and unresponsive".

A pathologist carried out a post-mortem examination and found he died from hanging.

The hearing was told Mr Owen had been diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder and depression.

A course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy had been planned.

Sarah Riley, assistant coroner for North West Wales, found Mr Owen hanged himself and concluded that he died from suicide.

After his death, officials at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board reviewed Mr Owen's case.

They found his care had been "appropriate, proportionate and timely", said the assistant coroner.

She also said a plan was noted to address certain actions, although they weren't read out at the inquest.

The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.

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