Teenager kills herself after watching Channel 4 drama that featured suicide
Rebecca Haley had a previous history of depression and self-harm, inquest hears
A teenager killed herself hours after watching a TV drama in which the main character attempted suicide, an inquest has heard.
Rebecca Haley, known as Becca, was found dead in her room at Gresham's boarding school in Norfolk in April after she failed to appear following the morning bell.
The 18-year-old had suffered from depression since the age of 13, previously made two attempted overdoses and had a long history of self-harm.
The inquest heard the night before Ms Haley’s death she had been watching a Channel 4 programme Flowers – starring Olivia Colman who was herself a former Gresham's pupil – with a friend where the main character attempts to kill himself in the opening scene.
But the series - which was shown on consecutive nights - ended on a much more positive note.
In a statement to the inquest Hannah Rice, who had been watching the programme with Ms Haley, said they had both been upset by it.
She said her friend had hugged for longer than usual as she said goodnight but stressed that she did not “indicate in any way she wanted to take her own life”.
Staff at the school and medical professionals both agreed that Ms Haley had been a very private person and did not disclose the reasons for her depression.
The Eastern Daily Press reported she had been seeing Patrick Draper, a caseworker for the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trusts’ youth team since May 2014.
Mr Draper said she had missed an appointment with him and said she no longer needed help when he called her.
The inquest did not find the trust in any way responsible for her death.
Recording a narrative conclusion, Coroner Yvonne Blake said she was not able to definitely say Ms Haley had intended to take her own life.
She said: “I have to say I’m not satisfied to the criminal standard that Rebecca appreciated the consequences of her actions.
“She had seen an emotional programme with her friend on the same subject. Her friend had mentioned she was sad about leaving school.
“She was a highly intelligent girl. There was no note, no evidence of any planning, it was a very sudden act. I’m inclined to think she acted impulsively.”
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