A young woman who shared her mental health battle on social media in a bid to help others has died.
Beth Matthews died following a "serious incident" at the Priory psychiatric hospital at Cheadle Royal, in Stockport, on Monday (March 21). It is understood that she had been a patient at the facility for several months.
The 26-year-old, from Cornwall, blogged her mental health journey following a suicide attempt in April 2019. She fell from a bridge and was taken to hospital by air ambulance having sustained multiple major injuries.
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She shared raw accounts of her recovery and helped others who were experiencing mental health issues. Beth, who loved spending time outdoors, had amassed 26,300 followers on Twitter and built a following of her own through her brutally honest blog posts.
She gave people the courage to speak out and continuously signposted anyone struggling to support groups, Plymouth Live reports. In a blog called Life Beyond the Ledge and on her twitter account, Beth opened up.
She bravely told her followers what led her to take her own life. In one of the last messages she posted on her account, she said: "It’s ironic that the injuries I sustained from a suicide attempt (nerve damage, broken bones, paralysed bladder, paralysed bowel, paralysed foot, chronic pain etc) are the reason I’m now suicidal.”
In her very last tweet, which has now gone viral, Beth told how she was 'struggling so much' and apologised to her followers for 'being so negative'. Hundreds of people have since shared their condolences on the thread.
Beth's pinned tweet praised the 'brave police officer who saved' her life in 2019. She wrote: "Today, I got to thank and hug the brave police officer who saved my life.
"Despite witnessing me fall 50ft off a bridge, she ran down and held my hand until I was airlifted to hospital. This moment meant the world and reminded me just how grateful I am to be alive."
The Devon and Cornwall Police officer has offered her condolences to Beth's loving friends, family and followers and added she knows Beth has helped 'so many people'.
She said: "I often kept Beth close to my thoughts after the first time that we met. She was a kind and very honest person, speaking openly about her struggles which I know helped and supported so many people.
"She was a big supporter of all the emergency services and I know her passing will greatly affect many. My thoughts go out to her family and friends."
Mental Health UK issued a statement on Twitter after hearing the sad news. The charity social media account said that Beth's advocacy in mental health would be "forever remembered".
It said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and family of Beth Matthews today. Beth's work and advocacy in mental health has touched and helped many people, and her commitment will be forever remembered."
Stockport Coroners Court confirmed that it had received a file in relation to Beth's death.
A spokesperson for Priory Cheadle Royal said: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm that a patient died after a serious incident on Monday and our thoughts are with her family at this very difficult time.
"We are carrying out a full internal investigation and working closely with the coroner’s office: we will not be in a position to comment further until the inquest has concluded.”
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