A man staying at a mental health unit in Ipswich who is believed to have taken his own life found the means to do so in his room, a court heard.
On Tuesday, the inquest into the death of Paul Templeton, who died on April 20 last year at the age of 65.
Mr Templeton had been staying at the Woodlands mental health unit in Ipswich since January 18, 2023.
Woodlands is located in Heath Road, but is a separate entity to Ipswich Hospital and is operated by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).
On Monday, the court heard that Mr Templeton was suffering from anxiety and depression and had been diagnosed with narcissistic and avoidant personality disorder.
On April 14, an incident took place at the Woodlands during which it is believed that Mr Templeton took action to end his own life.
The court heard that the means he used was found in his bedroom in the Willows ward.
Giving evidence before the court was charge nurse Leigh Short. Nurse Short said that the means had been identified as a risk to suicidal patients prior to Mr Templeton’s death.
However, he explained that while the Trust seeks to reduce risks, it was not possible to remove every risk within a hospital setting, as there were any number of ways a person could seek to harm themselves.
To mitigate risks, he explained that patients judged to be at risk of suicide can be placed under around-the-clock observation.
Also giving evidence was staff nurse Adeshola Ayoolah. Around an hour before the incident took place, she met Mr Templeton in the corridor outside his room, and observed him as he took his medication.
She said that he seemed cheerful and had smiled at her.
“It was the happiest I’d ever seen him,” she said, reading from the statement she wrote at the time.
Evidence was also read from a spiral-bound notebook found at the Woodlands. Although the entries were not signed or dated, the notebook is believed to have belonged to Mr Templeton.
In one entry, the writer described their fear that their digestive system had “shut down”, and the belief that food and medication were not being absorbed by their body.
In the final entry, the writer noted that they were feeling “rubbish, insecure, afraid of the future”.
The inquest is expected to conclude on Wednesday.
If you need urgent mental health support call NHS 111 and select option 2 or the Samaritans on 116 123. Both services are available 24 hours 7 days a week.
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