THE family of a Co Antrim man who took his own life have told an inquest into his death that he was “sent home” by mental health services after seeking help three days before died.
The body of Gregory Ferris, a father-of-five from Brigadie Gardens in Ballymena, was seen floating in water at Shore Road outside Larne by a Translink conductor on a passing train in December 2014.
At an inquest in Belfast yesterday, Coroner Joseph McCrisken ruled the 45 year-old took his own life by drowning “while the balance of his mind was disturbed”.
Relatives told the court of their “shock” at how Mr Ferris, an electrical engineer at the JTI Gallaher factory in Ballymena, had been “left to his own devices” despite a referral to Holywell Hospital in Antrim.
Mr Ferris had spoken to his GP about depression, and mentioned employment concerns relating to the closure of JTI, which was announced in October 2014.
Despite a swift referral to the mental health facility, his wife Brenda told the inquest her husband was “sent home” to wait five days for an appointment.
“I can’t see why warning lights weren’t flashing,” she said, before referring to her husband’s history of depression. The inquest heard he had previously attempted suicide.
“The GP had seen him and realised it was crucial he get help. Here was a man with a past history... Why did we have to wait five days to see a professional? We aren’t a third world country. Why were we sent home?”
Mr Ferris’ daughter Emer, added: “We see ads on TV and Facebook every day telling people to get help .....but we were left to our own devices. It’s absolutely crazy.”
However, the coroner said criticisms of mental health services were “unfair”, as Mr Ferris told his GP and staff at Holywell that he was not suicidal.
A spokesperson for the Northern Health Trust, which runs Holywell Hospital, said it did not comment on individual cases but extended its sympathies to the family.
