Young woman was 'failed by mental health system'
A young woman who took her own life weeks before turning 21 was failed by the local mental health system, an inquest heard.
Katarzyna Woloncewicz, also known as Kasia, was found dead from asphyxia on March 29 this year.
Kasia, who lived in Halesowen, suffered from depression and anxiety and had been seen by staff at Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
But a serious investigation was launched after Kasia’s mother accused the trust of failing her daughter.
It was said that Kasia had called Dudley Talking Therapy Services multiple times after being referred by a GP but never received a call back.
And on Monday at Black Country Coroners Court, assistant coroner Emma Whitting said: “Kasia took her own life but this was contributed to by system failures in the mental health service. Her intention in doing so remains unclear.”
Giving evidence, joint medical director at the trust, Dr Mark Weaver, admitted it was ‘completely unacceptable’ that Kasia never received a call back from the DTTS.
Dr Weaver said there would now be a full review of the trust’s front-line services, as well as a ‘thorough’ review of the talking therapies referral process.
Kasia’s mother Jayne McCracken previously said she believed her daughter would still be alive today if she had received a call back.
“Our lessons learned include not responding to calls from someone in need of help, probably in distress, and not coming back to them and offering support,” said Dr Weaver.
