An inquest has been held into the tragic death of Hollie Tennent as her family criticised the care she received
A young Hull woman took her own life just over a week after she was discharged from the mental health crisis team, an inquest has heard.
Hollie Tennent had significant mental health problems and had previously attempted suicide four times from June 2022 until she tragically took her life aged just 20 on August 22 last year.
Her family previously spoke out, saying they feel more could have been done to help her. More details of the care Hollie received were heard at the inquest.
In a statement read out at the inquest in Hull, Hollie's mum Joanne Tennent said: "I feel angry and upset Hollie didn't get the support she needed from the mental health team. There was no consistency in her treatment and it wasn't working for her."
Joanne said her daughter was an independent child. She was very active and took part in gymnastics, dancing and swimming. She also fell in love with horse riding and took part in competitions while she was also a talented singer.
Hollie had no mental health issues growing up but, after taking on an apprenticeship at a leisure centre she began to suffer anxiety.
She wanted to go to university to study to become a paramedic but she began to struggle with her mental health and lost confidence. She worked for a while as a healthcare assistant but was not entirely happy in her work.
She began taking medication for her anxiety but her family noticed a change in behaviour and she sometimes made irrational decisions. Her mental health suffered a further setback when she broke up with her boyfriend in April 2022.
In June Hollie made an attempt on her own life and was referred to the mental health assessment team and then to the Let's Talk service. She was eventually placed in the care of the home-based crisis team which is one level below being sectioned after attempting to take her life again on July 14.
Just a week later Hollie became very distressed and wanted to leave the house, Her mum rang the crisis team but they said they should let her leave. Hollie did leave and was found the next day drunk and apparently having made another attempt to take her own life.
Hollie's family were very critical of the service. They felt she was unable to strike up a rapport as she dealt with different staff members each time.
In her statement, mum Joanne said: "Hollie felt let down by the team and did not feel they cared enough. She did not have faith in the team and felt it was all just a box ticking exercise.
"The staff were different each time. She was made to feel like she was not trying hard enough to get well and it made her feel like a failure."
Hollie remained with the crisis team but made a further attempt on her life on August 9. Despite this, Hollie was discharged from the crisis team just five days later on August 14. Her medication was changed and she was referred to the community mental health team.
In the days before her death Hollie seemed to be improving but she was found at a relative's home in Sproatley, where she had been staying for the weekend, lifeless in the bedroom on August 22.
A postmortem examination confirmed Hollie had died due to hanging and toxicology results found there was no alcohol and only therapeutic levels of prescribed medication in her system.
Mental health nurse and senior clinical lead Sian Johnson, who works for the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, outlined and explained the treatment Hollie received.
She had no direct role in Hollie's care but has been tasked with looking into the case and seeing what lessons can be learned. She told the inquest improvements have been made within the crisis team following Hollie's death and a few other cases.
She said: "The home-based crisis team is only there for intensive support for a short period of time to help people through a particular crisis.
"But we recognise that people aren't seeing the same staff member each time. They work shifts so cannot necessarily see the same each time. We appreciate this means the person can be retelling the same story each time.
"We understand staff need to create relationships with patients. We are now looking to achieve some level of consistency to try and ensure they can see the same staff member as much as possible. But it can be difficult as we cover such a large geographical area."
Assistant coroner Sarah Middleton questioned Ms Johnson over why Hollie was not sectioned when she was found drunk on July 21 having apparently attempted to take her own life and having done two previous times recently.
Ms Johnson said the police found Hollie and did not feel the need to detain her under their own emergency powers. She said the use of such powers can be very distressing and it can be better to ensure the person has some control over their own life.
However, Hollie's condition did escalate and she was eventually taken to Miranda House. She was assessed and monitored at the Avondale ward. Her medication was changed which seemed to improve her sleeping pattern.
Hollie made a further attempt on her life on August 9 and told mental health staff she could not explain why she had done it. However, just five days later she was discharged from the crisis team.
Ms Johnson said: "There are always ups and downs in mental health. The crisis team never keeps people for long, usually between three to six weeks. If we kept everyone we would be overwhelmed and collapse. I do accept Hollie's discharge from the crisis team could have been softer and not so sudden."
Questions were also raised over whether Hollie's apparent improvement in the days before she died may have been down to the fact she had made the decision to take her own life.
But Ms Johnson said: "It is difficult to predict when someone may take their own life. Sometimes people do put their affairs in order but it is not always so obvious. When we see people improve we tend to accept they are actually improving.
"I am here to make the service better and I will identify any lessons we can learn. I would urge any family members who want to be involved in this process to get in touch."
Hollie's family previously paid tribute to her. Mum Joanne told BBC Look North in January: "Hollie was such a fun-loving person. From a very young age, she enjoyed singing, dancing and taking part in activities with her friends."
Her older sister, Alicia Tennent, also recalled Hollie as being spirited and full of fun. "She always wanted to come out with me and my friends when she wasn't even allowed to go out. She was pinching my clothes and things like that, just as younger sisters do."
In January, Hollie's loved ones came together to hold a 24-hour netball game at Waudby Centre in east Hull to raise money for MIND and Dove House Hospice.
Assistant Coroner Mrs Middleton will deliver her findings of fact and conclusion next week
Hull Live
A young Hull woman took her own life just over a week after she was discharged from the mental health crisis team, an inquest has heard.
Hollie Tennent had significant mental health problems and had previously attempted suicide four times from June 2022 until she tragically took her life aged just 20 on August 22 last year.
Her family previously spoke out, saying they feel more could have been done to help her. More details of the care Hollie received were heard at the inquest.
In a statement read out at the inquest in Hull, Hollie's mum Joanne Tennent said: "I feel angry and upset Hollie didn't get the support she needed from the mental health team. There was no consistency in her treatment and it wasn't working for her."
Joanne said her daughter was an independent child. She was very active and took part in gymnastics, dancing and swimming. She also fell in love with horse riding and took part in competitions while she was also a talented singer.
Hollie had no mental health issues growing up but, after taking on an apprenticeship at a leisure centre she began to suffer anxiety.
She wanted to go to university to study to become a paramedic but she began to struggle with her mental health and lost confidence. She worked for a while as a healthcare assistant but was not entirely happy in her work.
She began taking medication for her anxiety but her family noticed a change in behaviour and she sometimes made irrational decisions. Her mental health suffered a further setback when she broke up with her boyfriend in April 2022.
In June Hollie made an attempt on her own life and was referred to the mental health assessment team and then to the Let's Talk service. She was eventually placed in the care of the home-based crisis team which is one level below being sectioned after attempting to take her life again on July 14.
Just a week later Hollie became very distressed and wanted to leave the house, Her mum rang the crisis team but they said they should let her leave. Hollie did leave and was found the next day drunk and apparently having made another attempt to take her own life.
Hollie's family were very critical of the service. They felt she was unable to strike up a rapport as she dealt with different staff members each time.
In her statement, mum Joanne said: "Hollie felt let down by the team and did not feel they cared enough. She did not have faith in the team and felt it was all just a box ticking exercise.
"The staff were different each time. She was made to feel like she was not trying hard enough to get well and it made her feel like a failure."
Hollie remained with the crisis team but made a further attempt on her life on August 9. Despite this, Hollie was discharged from the crisis team just five days later on August 14. Her medication was changed and she was referred to the community mental health team.
In the days before her death Hollie seemed to be improving but she was found at a relative's home in Sproatley, where she had been staying for the weekend, lifeless in the bedroom on August 22.
A postmortem examination confirmed Hollie had died due to hanging and toxicology results found there was no alcohol and only therapeutic levels of prescribed medication in her system.
Mental health nurse and senior clinical lead Sian Johnson, who works for the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, outlined and explained the treatment Hollie received.
She had no direct role in Hollie's care but has been tasked with looking into the case and seeing what lessons can be learned. She told the inquest improvements have been made within the crisis team following Hollie's death and a few other cases.
She said: "The home-based crisis team is only there for intensive support for a short period of time to help people through a particular crisis.
"But we recognise that people aren't seeing the same staff member each time. They work shifts so cannot necessarily see the same each time. We appreciate this means the person can be retelling the same story each time.
"We understand staff need to create relationships with patients. We are now looking to achieve some level of consistency to try and ensure they can see the same staff member as much as possible. But it can be difficult as we cover such a large geographical area."
Assistant coroner Sarah Middleton questioned Ms Johnson over why Hollie was not sectioned when she was found drunk on July 21 having apparently attempted to take her own life and having done two previous times recently.
Ms Johnson said the police found Hollie and did not feel the need to detain her under their own emergency powers. She said the use of such powers can be very distressing and it can be better to ensure the person has some control over their own life.
However, Hollie's condition did escalate and she was eventually taken to Miranda House. She was assessed and monitored at the Avondale ward. Her medication was changed which seemed to improve her sleeping pattern.
Hollie made a further attempt on her life on August 9 and told mental health staff she could not explain why she had done it. However, just five days later she was discharged from the crisis team.
Ms Johnson said: "There are always ups and downs in mental health. The crisis team never keeps people for long, usually between three to six weeks. If we kept everyone we would be overwhelmed and collapse. I do accept Hollie's discharge from the crisis team could have been softer and not so sudden."
Questions were also raised over whether Hollie's apparent improvement in the days before she died may have been down to the fact she had made the decision to take her own life.
But Ms Johnson said: "It is difficult to predict when someone may take their own life. Sometimes people do put their affairs in order but it is not always so obvious. When we see people improve we tend to accept they are actually improving.
"I am here to make the service better and I will identify any lessons we can learn. I would urge any family members who want to be involved in this process to get in touch."
Hollie's family previously paid tribute to her. Mum Joanne told BBC Look North in January: "Hollie was such a fun-loving person. From a very young age, she enjoyed singing, dancing and taking part in activities with her friends."
Her older sister, Alicia Tennent, also recalled Hollie as being spirited and full of fun. "She always wanted to come out with me and my friends when she wasn't even allowed to go out. She was pinching my clothes and things like that, just as younger sisters do."
In January, Hollie's loved ones came together to hold a 24-hour netball game at Waudby Centre in east Hull to raise money for MIND and Dove House Hospice.
Assistant Coroner Mrs Middleton will deliver her findings of fact and conclusion next week
Hull Live
