Ask your MP to support Essex families call for public inquiry into mental health services
Melanie Leahy, the mother of Matthew Leahy who died whilst a mental health inpatient in an Essex mental health ward in 2012, secured a parliamentary debate into deaths in mental health care following a successful petition signed by over 105,000 people. The debate will take place in Westminster Hall from 4.30 on Monday 30 November.
This is an important opportunity to stand with Melanie and other families affected and support their campaign for a public inquiry into Essex mental health services.
The situation in Essex is a stark example of the systemic failures in the care of people with mental health needs. Since 2013, INQUEST has worked on over 28 cases involving deaths in mental health settings in Essex. These deaths are marred by failures that are repeated time and again. There have been countless investigations, inspection reports and inquests highlighting these failures, but despite these, preventable deaths have continued.
I am a mother who is unable to mourn the death of my only child, because I do not have the truth as to how he truly died. There is no giving up on this pathway to truth, justice, accountability and change for others and I see the only way forward is through a Statutory Public Inquiry.
– Melanie Leahy
Alongside bereaved families, INQUEST are asking MPs to support the call for a statutory public inquiry into Essex mental health services.
We are also asking MPs to support the call for independent investigations into deaths in mental health settings. And to call for the formation of a National Oversight Mechanism, which would collate, analyse and monitor learning and implementation of recommendations from state-related deaths, to ensure accountability and prevent future deaths.
Learn more in the INQUEST Parliamentary Briefing and on Melanie’s website.
Ask your MP to take part
- Tweet your MP
You can automatically find and tweet your MP here with our suggested tweet: “Hello [your MP] Will you represent me at the Westminster Hall debate on deaths in Mental Health care this Monday at 4.30 & support the call for a statutory public inquiry into Essex mental health services? See @INQUEST_ORG briefing. #MatthewsCampaign”
- Email or call your MP
Find your MP and their contact details here. We suggest stating details on the debate (the Westminster Hall debate on deaths in Mental Health care this Monday 30 November at 4.30) and asking them to support the call for a statutory public inquiry into Essex mental health services, and to introduce independent investigations into deaths in mental health settings. You can also share a link to the INQUEST briefing. If you have been personally affected by any relevant issues and feel able, it is also worth mentioning your own experiences to help your voice be heard and represented.
The debate will be available to watch live from 4.30 on 30 November 2020 on Parliament TV here.
Credit. Inquest Group
