A “bright, kind, and compassionate” young musician went missing hours after struggling to access mental health support at his school, an inquest heard.
Matthew Young was last seen alive on September 9 2020, on his way home from Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar Sixth Form.
Despite an extensive search for the youngster, the 17-year-old was tragically found dead just off Wellington Street the next day.
READ MORE:
An inquest into his death at Rochdale Coroners’ Court heard yesterday, November 9, that the teen had made two attempts to access support from his counsellor that morning, sending an email and also stopping by the office during his morning break, and was denied the chance to speak with her both times.
During the first part of the three-day hearing, area coroner Catherine McKenna heard from Matthew’s family, who had been supportive of the talented musician.
Dad Ian told the court that Matthew had been making plans for his future shortly before his death, discussing his applications for university.
Speaking about his younger son, Mr Young said: “I’m very proud to be Matthew’s father, he was a bright, polite, loyal, kind, sensitive and compassionate young man.
“His social anxiety and low mood came from nowhere and were not always easy to see.
“We love and miss our younger son very much and our family will never be the same again without him, this should never have happened.
“Matthew had everything he needed to succeed and be happy but he could not get the support he needed from professionals.
“He left us a note saying he saw himself as a burden to others - he was not willing or able to disclose his true feelings to his family until it was too late.
“The guilt and trauma that we have been experiencing, we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.”
Ms McKenna heard that Matthew first attended his GP for his low mood in October 2018, before being placed on antidepressants.
He then started cognitive behavioural therapy with Healthy Young Minds in Bury.
His GP, Dr Peter Thomas at Mile Lane Medical Centre, had regular check-ups with Matthew until early 2020, when the youngster’s care was transferred to another GP at the surgery.
Before the court, Mr and Mrs Young shared their frustration at trying to access support for their son after an incident on August 24 last year where mum Jacquelyn found the teenager in a “trance-like state” in his room after taking ketamine.
In a panic, she called an ambulance, and watched as her son was taken to hospital alone - after being told that covid rules prevented her or her husband from being with him.
At Fairfield General Hospital, Matthew was assessed by Dr Paul Wallman, the consultant in A&E that morning, who saw him as a quiet young man, with no idea that tragedy was about to strike.
He added: “There was nothing jumping out at me with regards to a young person known to mental health services that something catastrophic was going to take place in the very near future.
“I’m not saying that I would or should have referred Matthew to the mental health team, or admitted him, or anything else, but every single day I use Matthew’s case as a reference point for safely discharging patients - I thought that I had discharged him safely.
“I can remember the day somebody came to tell us Matthew had passed away - this has never happened to me before, this is the most significant incident that I’ve experienced in the 29 years I’ve been qualified.”
Dr Wallman said the A&E department has now altered the way they approach older teenagers presenting with mental health difficulties to ensure that every patient is able to access the help needed.
Later that day, Mrs Young tried to contact Healthy Young Minds to discuss Matthew’s incident with them, waiting on hold for one hour and ten minutes before she was able to speak with a receptionist.
She did not receive a call back from her son’s consultant psychiatrist until September 9, the day Matthew went missing.
Addressing the court about her son’s death, Mrs Young added: “In hindsight, which is torturous, you ask yourself how you could not see the clues.
“I loved Matthew, I cared for him, and of course when asked I believed I could safeguard him but I was naïve - although I was worried I never thought the worst could happen.
"When we found out he was using ketamine we think he felt embarrassed and ashamed - we were not cross with him, we were just worried about him and each time we tried to get help for him we were ignored.
“Our love wasn’t enough and now I wish we’d shouted and screamed for help, we requested support and no action was taken.
“We tried so hard to be the best parents we could be but we failed our little boy, when Matthew died, part of us died too.
“We let Matthew down, not intentionally but because we couldn’t get him the support he needed.
“We strongly believe that Matthew’s been let down by all the agencies supporting him.”
Matthew engaged with Early Break, a service helping young people affected by drug or alcohol misuse, to discuss alternative ways to help with his sleeping issues, and had returned to school to start his final year in sixth form shortly before his death.
An appointment was made by his GP surgery after the hospital alerted them to Matthew’s temporary admission, but was accidentally cancelled by a receptionist, and never relayed to the youngster or his family.
The inquest, which will hear from both the school staff who interacted with Matthew and members of the Healthy Young Minds team responsible for his care, continues.
