A Hertfordshire man who “exuded energy and enthusiasm” took his own life after “years” of mental health struggles, an inquest heard.
Shortly before 11am on October 13 last year, police and paramedics were called to Stevenage railway station following reports of a casualty on the tracks.
Soon after emergency services arrived, British Transport Police confirmed that a person, identified as 34-year-old Nicholas Goodwin from Baldock, Hertfordshire, had died at the scene.
Read more: News from Hertfordshire’s courts
An inquest held on Thursday (September 30) at Hertfordshire Coroner’s Court revealed that Mr Goodwin had a history of mental health struggles.
The coroner, Geoffrey Sullivan, told the court that Mr Goodwin had previously faced “depressive episodes” and had been prescribed medication to help him with his mental health.
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Mr Goodwin was a married man who “exuded energy and enthusiasm”, the inquest heard. He came off the medication in 2019 when he was in a better place with his mental health.
However, the day before his death, Mr Goodwin booked an appointment at his local GP surgery in Baldock to ask for help.
Mr Goodwin had a telephone consultation with a GP at the Baldock Surgery on the afternoon of October 12, 2020.
A statement from the GP, read by the coroner, revealed that Mr Goodwin had been “struggling” with his mental health. Mr Goodwin, who worked as a project manager, told the GP that work deadlines and coronavirus restrictions were causing him anxiety.
He said he felt anxious “more than half the days”, and the GP diagnosed him with moderate to severe anxiety.
As Mr Goodwin had “responded well to medication in the past”, the GP suggested he be prescribed the medication again, starting with a smaller dose and working towards the full dosage.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or finding things difficult, there are a number of agencies and helplines available.
Here are a few of the links and numbers who will be there for you when you need.
Samaritans:
Helpline: 116 123 (free of charge from a landline or mobile)
Email jo@samaritans.org
www.samaritans.org
24 hr helpline offering emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide
Calm:
0800 585858
www.thecalmzone.net
Campaign Against Living Miserably Help and support for young men aged 15-35 on issues which include depression and suicide.
HopeLine UK
0800 068 4141
www.papyrus-uk.org
For practical advice on suicide prevention
SHOUT
Text 85258
https://www.giveusashout.org/
Anxious/worried/stressed – get 24/7 help from a crisis volunteer
SOS Silence of Suicide
0300 1020 505 Monday-Sunday 8am until midnight
https://sossilenceofsuicide.org/
Striving to reduce Shame, Stigma and Silence surrounding Emotional Health & Suicide
For children and adults who need emotional support, understanding, compassion and kindness.
The OLLIE Foundation
https://theolliefoundation.org/
A charity dedicated to delivering suicide awareness. Providing confidential help and advice to young people and anyone worried about a young person. Helping others to prevent young suicide by delivering a number of training programmes. Delivering online weekly mental health support sessions open and free to all young people.
He was also prescribed additional medication to be taken if he felt particularly anxious and was absolutely necessary.
Mr Goodwin was said to be “calm” during the consultation. Asked whether he had thought about taking his own life, Mr Goodwin said he had briefly thought about it the day before but had not made any preparations. The risk that he would take his own life was not seen to be significant.
He was told that he would have a follow-up consultation with the Hertfordshire Wellbeing Service later that month. The GP also wrote a sick note, allowing Mr Goodwin to take seven days off work due to “severe anxiety”.
Mr Goodwin seemed pleased after the appointment and said the GP had been “helpful”, the inquest heard.
In his statement, the GP sent his sincere condolences to the family and said he was “shocked and saddened” by the events.
He added that he had “reflected many times” on the consultation and had had discussions with his colleagues about how mental health services at the surgery could be improved.
In a text shared with his sister the day before his death, Mr Goodwin thanked her for her support and said he was “over the worst” with regards to his mental health struggles.
Inquests do not investigate every single death that happens, but will hear unexplained or suspicious deaths of individuals. They will hear from witnesses from organisations, health services, as well as officers and police who investigated the incidents.
The law says that the coroner must open an inquest into a death if there is a reasonable cause to suspect that the death was due to anything other than natural causes.
An inquest is a limited fact-finding inquiry to establish:
- Who died;
- When they died;
- Where they died;
- How they died; and
- Information needed by the Registrar of Deaths so the death can be registered.
There is a formal court setting and all must stand when the coroner enters and leaves the court.
It is very much in the public interest to have an effective inquest system, as it safeguards the legal rights of the deceased’s family and other interested persons. It highlights lessons to be learned and advances in medical knowledge.
Many families also find it helps to have the chance to ask questions to witnesses, and at the end of the process, know that they have the full and accurate facts about their loved one’s death.
Mr Goodwin left home at around 10.25am on the morning of October 13, claiming he had a work meeting. The inquest heard that his wife, although aware of her husband’s ongoing mental health struggles, noticed “nothing out of the ordinary”.
The court heard that Mr Goodwin drove to Stevenage railway station shortly before his death, the medical cause of which was recorded as “multiple traumatic injuries”.
The coroner concluded that after “years of struggle with his mental health”, Mr Goodwin had taken his own life.
Support is available
You don’t have to suffer in silence if you’re struggling with your mental health. Here are some groups you can contact when you need help.
Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence
Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won’t show up on your bill
PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141
MIND : A mental health charity which offers various support and resources including an Infoline or Legal line.
Students Against Depression : A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Click here to visit
Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Click here
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. There is a helpline: 0800 58 58 58 or visit the website.
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