‘Lovely’ teacher, 36, found dead in room at Holiday Inn Express after desperate plea from his partner
A TRAINEE teacher was found dead in his hotel room just weeks after his ex-partner pleaded with mental health professionals to intervene, an inquest has heard.
Patrick Minett, 36, had a long history of mental health issues and his ex Lauren Richardson was concerned after he revealed plans to end his life, Exeter Coroners Court heard.
He was tragically found dead by staff at the Holiday Inn Express in Exeter on March 27, 2023.
Lauren had found evidence he was planning the suicide on his computer in February and told his doctors surgery that month.
However, officials could not detain him under the Mental Health Act because he denied suicidal thoughts, the inquest heard.
She said: “He said he was fine and denied having suicidal thoughts and that was it. I could not believe that was all they could do.
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“I believe if authorities had been involved at that time, Patrick would still be here today.”
Patrick suffered from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In total, the conditions are thought to affect up to 25million people in Britain.
Depression is a mental health condition that causes sufferers to feel persistently sad for weeks or months and can cause a wide variety of other symptoms, according to the NHS.
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These include losing interest in the things you used to enjoy, feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and various aches and pains.
Anxiety is another condition, which causes a feeling of unease, worry or fear and can result in panic attacks or phobias like a fear of spiders.
As well as feeling restless or worried, people with the condition may have trouble concentrating or sleeping and experience dizziness or heart palpitations.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that is caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events and can result in nightmares, flashbacks and feelings of isolation.
It has been so upsetting and sad. He was loved by his family very much
Michelle Minett
Causes can range from serious road accidents to violent assaults, health problems or issues in childbirth.
Mr Minett had a difficult childhood, in part due to not being diagnosed with mood-affecting temporal lobe epilepsy early enough, Ms Richardson told the court, according to DevonLive.
His moods could make their relationship “unstable and volatile” and he had previously attempted suicide in 2015, she said.
Ms Richardson said: “He was a lovely person when his mental health condition did not get the better of him.”
Medication had helped him but he started to become unhappy and feel isolated during the Covid pandemic after the couple moved to Exeter.
He was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, and grew up in Norfolk and was planning to move back to Lincolnshire where his family live before his tragic death.
His devastated mum Michelle said he felt “unsupported” in his role as a trainee teacher at King Edward VI Community College in Totnes.
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The couple were starting what was planned to be a three-week trial separation to evaluate their relationship the day before he was found at the hotel.
Michelle said: "It has been so upsetting and sad. He was loved by his family very much."
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123