In the grip of severe depression, Phil Wright could not leave his house or even speak to his doctor on the phone.
Because home visits are not guaranteed on the NHS, it meant that the father stayed trapped inside for several months without help, while his mental health deteriorated.
Last month, he took his own life – a tragedy his daughter believes could have been prevented if he had access to the right support.
“When my dad passed away, his doctors sent a sympathy card, and I literally ripped it up,” Abbey Wright told The Independent. “I thought if you had done your job properly, you wouldn’t have to give sympathy for what happened.”
Phil’s family realised he desperately needed help last year, when he told them he no longer wanted to be alive.
“He wouldn’t leave the house, he’d never come out, and then in October, he had a breakdown. He was crying, he didn’t want to be here any more, he just didn’t see the point.”
Ms Wright, who was terrified for her father, called 111 to see if a doctor could come to their home.
She was told that it wasn’t possible, and her father would have to leave the house or speak to somebody over the phone if he wanted to get help.
“It baffled me,” she said. “I thought, what are we meant to do now? I can’t drag a fully grown man to the doctor, kicking and screaming.”
Despite repeatedly asking for someone to visit, Phil was only able to get phone appointments, and his wife would have to do most of the talking.
“I don’t know how you can assess someone’s mental health on the phone... A phone appointment is not enough to be able to assess the situation,” Ms Wright said.
“You cannot see the anxiety, their body language, their lips trembling; you can’t see any of that on a phone, so you need to see that in person to be able to fully understand they’re not well.”
Ms Wright, who was visiting her father twice a day, said she felt helpless. “It’s like the lights were on, but he wasn’t home. He would just stare into space. He just wasn’t himself at all.
“There’s only so much you can do as a family to try and be there for them. I didn’t know what was going on in his head, my mum certainly didn’t, and I don’t think he did himself.”
She believes that at-home care would have been “hugely” impactful and could have saved her father’s life.
Now, Ms Wright wants to see mandatory home visits for people struggling with severe mental health issues who are unable to leave the house.
“When someone is experiencing extreme mental health issues and cannot leave their home, there should be a mandatory requirement for healthcare professionals to conduct house visits,” she said.
“These individuals need immediate and compassionate face-to-face care, not vague suggestions or impersonal phone calls.”
A spokesperson for Gresleydale Healthcare Centre, Mr Wright’s doctors’ surgery, said: “We were extremely saddened to hear about Mr Wright’s passing, and our heartfelt sympathies and thoughts are with his family and friends.
“Although we are unable to speak about individual cases, the policy of our practice does include the provision of home visits, alongside telephone appointments, for patients who are unable to leave their home. Each case is assessed on an individual basis.
“As part of our normal procedures in circumstances like these, we will review our contacts with Mr Wright and his family in the time leading up to his passing to understand if there are things we could have done differently and if there are any changes to policies or processes needed in the future. A learn[ing] from patient safety event has been undertaken and shared with the ICB for learning.”
It urged anyone who needs help for a mental health crisis or emergency to call NHS 111.
Gemma Byrne, the policy and influencing manager at mental health charity Mind, said: “For anyone experiencing severe mental health problems, access to the right support is crucial. Where people need face-to-face, human support, we must be able to deliver it.
Last week, the government announced a new mental health strategy that aims to drive a shift from crisis intervention to preventative care as part of its 10-year health plan.
“A decade from now, we cannot still be talking about a system that is overstretched, reactive, and struggling to meet demand,” Ms Byrne said.
“We need a future-focused mental health system that intervenes earlier, responds faster, and delivers high-quality support that reflects the complexity of people’s lives.”
An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS is continuing to take action to strengthen and improve services for those living with a severe mental illness, but we know there is more to do.
“Every area in England now has new crisis resolution and home treatment teams in place to provide rapid support, including face-to-face care and home visits where clinically appropriate, to ensure people experiencing severe mental health issues can access care in the right setting for their needs.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you
