Grieving mum took own life just four weeks after son, 17, killed himself when he broke up with girlfriend
A GRIEVING mum took her own life just four weeks after her son killed himself when he broke up with his girlfriend.
Harriet Belmore, 36, was distraught when only child 17-year-old Charlie Belmore-Hawkes was found hanged in a wooded area near their Norfolk home on October 2 last year.
Despite struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss and overdosing just five days later, Harriet refused mental health support, an inquest heard.
Laser aesthetics technician Harriet had told those closest to her she wanted "to be with her son" shortly before she was found dead at her home on October 31.
The heartbreaking deaths of the mum and son were told at two separate inquests held just minutes after each other at Norfolk Coroner's Court.
Charlie's inquest heard he took his own life three days after a row with his girlfriend when he attended a festival with an ex.
The teen's partner had told him she wanted a break which left Charlie "depressed", his mum had told cops at the time.
Det Sgt Matthew Hendry, of Norfolk Police, said in a report to Charlie's inquest: "Both sides of his family were loving, responsible people who clearly loved him very much.
"He was clearly struggling greatly with this matter and his father and mother had not seen him this low before."
Norfolk's senior coroner Jacqueline Lake concluded Charlie had "taken his own life but the evidence does not reveal his intentions at the time".
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At a separate hearing for Harriet, the inquest was told she had been admitted to hospital on October 7 after an overdose.
Staff at A&E recommended Harriet have a mental health assessment - which didn't take place after telling the mental health liaison team she wanted to be discharged.
She was then referred to the crisis team who paid her a visit on October 11 where she said she didn't want any support, the hearing heard.
Two days later she was discharged from crisis services.
Crisis nurse Melissa Moss told the court Harriet said she was "fine" and found support offers "patronising".
Ms Moss then passed on contact details to Harriet's mum, Frances, and further support options.
Unfortunately, Harriet was found unresponsive at her home a few weeks later and pronounced dead despite paramedics' best efforts to administer CPR.
Ms Lake recorded a conclusion that Harriet had died by suicide.
The coroner added: "She self-discharged from the hospital on October 7 and then did not engage with mental health services or her GP.
"She continued to ask how she would manage without her son - and spoke of wanting to be with him again."
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The medical cause of both Harriet and Charlie's deaths were given as hanging at the inquests.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123