20-Year-Old Woman Found Dead in Supported Accommodation in Exeter
An inquest reveals concerns over mental health care for a young woman found dead in Exeter
Exeter, Devon, Mental Health, Suicide, Inquest
Exeter: A tragic story has emerged about a 20-year-old woman named Shannon Horsley. She was found dead in her room at a supported living facility in Heavitree. This happened on April 29, 2022, just a month after she moved in.
Shannon had a tough battle with her mental health for years. She grew up in North Devon and started facing anxiety during her school days. Her dream was to work in mental health services, but she struggled to get the grades she needed.
After spending time in various mental health facilities, she was finally discharged to supported accommodation. Sadly, her father, Stephen, shared that she had made several suicide attempts over the years, which he believed were cries for help.
He described her as a wonderful young lady who often said she wasn’t ill but had a chemical imbalance. Heartbreakingly, he feels that the mental health services let her down and that she should have received more care.
Shannon’s mother, Sandra, also expressed her concerns. She felt that her daughter should never have been in assisted living and should have been sectioned instead. She believed that would have helped Shannon cope better.
Shannon’s partner mentioned that just before her death, Shannon seemed to be in a bad place and had made a suicide attempt. Unfortunately, she wasn’t detained under the Mental Health Act and was sent back to her accommodation.
In the wake of this tragedy, the DevonLive Shatter the Silence campaign aims to encourage open conversations about mental health. They want to reduce the number of suicides in Devon and highlight the importance of talking about struggles.
They plan to share stories of those who have survived suicide attempts and provide information on where to get help. The hope is to make a difference and prevent more tragedies like Shannon’s.
Shannon’s partner expressed frustration over the lack of support and hopes for justice to prevent similar situations in the future. The inquest into her death is ongoing, with more details expected to emerge.