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Lynda Warren found dead in woodland near Minster tried hanging herself at St Martin's Hospital, Canterbury, just weeks before her death

By: Matt Leclere mleclere@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 16:00, 13 August 2019

A woman tried to hang herself in a mental health hospital just weeks before she was discovered dead in woodland.

Lynda Warren - described as "one-in-a-million" by friends - had long-suffered chronic depression and had a history of self-harm and suicide attempts.

An inquest into the 50-year-old's death heard she had tried to take her own life during a three-week stay at St Martin's Hospital in Canterbury.

Lynda Warren was found hanging in a tree in woodland near Minster

She had been admitted following a suicide attempt at her mother's house in Birchington, where she lived.

After being discharged, she moved in with the her sister, but a week later, on March 1, sparked concern after failing to return from a trip to a Salvation Army shop - an outing which had been encouraged by mental health teams, her sister said.

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Friends launched an appeal on Facebook to find Ms Warren, but she was tragically discovered hanged in woodland just outside the village, in Watchester Lane.

An inquest into her death heard she frequently disagreed with doctors prescribing her medication to help with depression.

The former pharmacist assistant would tell clinicians within days of starting new drugs that they were not working and ask to change, the hearing at Canterbury Coroner's Court was told.

Canterbury Magistrates' Court where the inquest was held

Her sister, Teresa Brown, said: "I think it was a very big issue that she wasn't giving the medication long enough to work. I don't know if that was to do with her being a pharmacist.

"She had a lot of visits from health workers - sometimes three a day - and had a lot of people checking on her.

"She said she felt she had nothing to live for and that was it."

Dr Andrew Walton, Ms Warren's GP, said she had been suffering with chronic depression for several years and had been admitted to hospital in the past.

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"She was under the mental health team and discussing concerns about her medication," he said in a statement read by the coroner. "She was incredibly complicated."

Coroner James Dillon said: "The medical cause is hanging. I'm satisfied that on the balance of probability that she took her own life and intended to do so.

"I've heard a lot of background including hospital admissions and a history of attempts to take her own life on previous occasions.

"I'm going to record a conclusion of suicide."

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.

For more information on why we cover inquests, click here.

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