Troubled Sheffield student who struggled with depression took his own life, inquest hears

A Sheffield student had talked openly to mental health services about taking his life, an inquest heard.
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A resumed inquest into the the death of Elias Ahmed, 21, heard his body had been found on December 30, 2020.

The cause of his death was found by a pathologist to be hanging.

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Mental health nurse Imelda Murphy, who worked on the home treatment team that saw Mr Ahmed, gave evidence at the inquest yesterday, Wednesday, May 19.

Sheffield Coroner's Court, where the inquest was heldSheffield Coroner's Court, where the inquest was held
Sheffield Coroner's Court, where the inquest was held

She explained how Elias, who was a student at Sheffield Hallam University, had been referred to mental health services for feeling suicidal.

He had taken two overdoses on the 1st and 4th of December 2020 and had talked openly about suicide.

Though he had not held back on this he had engaged with the treatment offered to him by the team, which included mental health nurses, a psychologist and support workers.

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He had not wanted to be admitted to hospital because he would have found it to be too restrictive.

She said Elias, who was living in student accomodation, had insisted he did not want his family to know about his depression, overdoses or his treatment.

"We asked him specifically and he was absolutely adamant.” she said.

Elias had his last appointment with the team on December 26, with an appointment to see a doctor on December 29.

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At the inquest, Mr Ahmed’s father said Elias had come to visit the family on December 26 and he had taken him out for driving lessons. He had last seen him on December 27.

“I wanted him to spend a night with us but he said he had to go to work,” he said. “He never told me he was on a sick note.”

He had called his son several times and texted him on subsequent days but had received no reply.

He had learned of his son’s death from the police when he had returned home from a hospital appointment on December 30.

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“If I had known he was mentally not alright I could have kept him at home.

"I thought he looked stressed and nervous. He said it was about his studies and deadlines.

"He had been suffering from depression and we did not know anything about it. He was very calm and helped his sister and brothers and never complained about anything.”

The family raised concerns about the fact that the mental health team had not informed them about his depression.

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Assistant coroner Abigail Combes recorded a verdict of suicide.

She said: “Hospital admission does not reduce completely the risk of an individual taking their own life. I am satisfied that the decision not to admit Elias to hospital was appropriately taken.

“The mental health services could not notify the family about his condition on the basis of the evidence I have heard.

“He clearly had the mental capacity to make decisions for himself even when they were unwise decisions and he was adamant about his choice not to tell his family about the support he was receiving and clearly described his reasons for not wanting to do so.

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“I don’t think there is anything you could have done even if you had known about it that would have made a difference. I think Elias had made a decision.”

If you need to talk, you can call the Samaritans free on 116 123, or visit samaritans.org.

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