Opinion

Alarm over tragic death of Sophie Bridges

It is essential that our senior politicians and health administrators devote careful and sympathetic consideration to the circumstances surrounding the short life and sad death of 21-year-old Sophie Bridges.

As we reported yesterday, Sophie suffered a fatal heart attack at her home in Killyleagh, Co Down, at the weekend after suffering from a serious eating disorder over many years.

Her grieving mother, Sharon, said she `begged and pleaded' for appropriate forms of help but ultimately felt that Sophie had been let down by the system.

There can be little doubt that the issue of mental health has been neglected by the authorities and a fresh approach is urgently needed if other equally tragic cases are to be avoided.