Britain's mental health reckoning - part two

英国的心理健康清算——第二部分

The Story

2026-02-03

32 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

A public inquiry resumes this week to investigate the deaths of over 2000 mental health inpatients in the care of NHS trusts in Essex. We unpick some of the themes the Lampard Inquiry has been hearing, and speak to a whistleblower about her experiences working on one of the wards. This programme includes material that some listeners may find distressing, including descriptions of suicide. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Guests:  Melanie Leahy, campaigner and mother of Matthew‘Anna’, whistleblower and former staff at the Linden CentreHost: Daniel Gordon. Producers: Daniel Gordon, Edward Drummond, Taryn Siegel.  We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised, the following organisations can help:  SANE is a charity which provides emotional support and specialist services for people who need help with their mental health and their families. Its helpline, SANEline, is 0300 304 7000. Details of other ways to get in touch can be found at sane.org.uk  MIND is another mental health charity offering support, its main information line is 0300 102 1234 Details of other helplines can be found at mind.org.uk  The Samaritans provides 24 hour emotional support to people struggling to cope or relatives bereaved by suicide. Call 116 123, or visit samaritans.org. Further listening: Britain’s mental health reckoning - part one. Clips: The Lampard Inquiry. Photo: Joe Giddens/PA Wire. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • From The Times and The Sunday Times, this is the story.

  • I'm Daniel Gordon.

  • If the witness could be sworn, please.

  • Last October,

  • a smartly turned-out blonde woman in horn-rimmed glasses was sworn in to give evidence at a public inquiry.

  • I am Melanie Lee, he's swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth,

  • the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

  • Today Mark's a deeply personal and historic moment for me.

  • The culmination of a campaign she'd led for more than a decade.

  • After 13 years of campaigning for truth and accountability following the death of my son,

  • I appear here today before the Lampard Inquiry.

  • Melanie's son, Matthew, died while sectioned on an acute mental health ward in Essex,

  • and she's been fighting for answers ever since.

  • The result has been the Lampard Inquiry, which begins hearing another section of evidence this week.

  • It's investigating the deaths of over 2,000 people who received mental health care across the county in the space of more than 20 years.

  • which may have been preventable.

  • More than 70 friends and loved ones of those patients have already told the inquiry how their lives have been changed forever.

  • It was our family's greatness fortune that our beloved Richard should fall victim to the trust's dangerous practices.

  • And I'm still no closer to understanding how over a period of 10 years you faded before our eyes following what was supposed to be a two-week assessment.

  • Pippa's death was a tragedy and it is still felt by family and friends today.