Yahoo News 'My old neighbour took his own life after feeling let down by health services'
Tributes have been paid to a "kind and gentle soul" from Blackpool after he took his own life in the A&E department of a local hospital.
Jamie Pearson was found in the toilets of the Accident and Emergency department of the hospital on Friday, August 16. The 27-year-old was struggling with mental health issues at the time and felt a lack of support.
Max Fox was Jamie's neighbour when the boys were growing up on Kirkstall Avenue in Blackpool. Although the pair had an eight year difference, Max described him as having "a unique ability to make people laugh and feel loved, even during his own struggles".
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Grappling with his mental health for a number of years, Jamie had spent a couple of days in and out of A&E. Then, one day last month, he made the decision to enter the toilets on the ward and took his own life.
Max found out the news through his auntie and uncle and immediately felt like he wanted to arrange a call for action. Talking to LancsLive, he said: "When I found out, I was just absolutely devastated beyond words. You just don't see these kinds of things happening and literally right in front of you.
"I think that's the shame because sometimes you think, oh I should have dropped a message."
Jamie had been at Blackpool Victoria Hospital's A&E department on the fateful day in August. Talking about Jamie being in hospital, Max said: "They weren't treating the root cause which was actually his mental health. Then he chose to end his life.
"I think there should be more processes in place for the NHS. They should be treating multiple issues on A&E, a mental health team should be doing assessments on entry and not putting them in a ward.
"Not putting the people with suicidal ideas on a ward for two days thinking they'll be alright and they can stay there because they're safe. They're not safe, they are at a very high risk.
"They've done nothing with the head. You can't fix physical ailments without looking at the root cause."
As a result of the incident, Blackpool Victoria Hospital said they were investigating the circumstances and colleagues as well as Jamie's family are being supported by the Trust.
Understanding the struggles, Max admits he tried to commit suicide when he was younger, at around 18 years of age. "I was in and out of the Vic, so because I sort of had a lived experience of being in that hole.
"It just really reminds me that we need change and we need change now. We need to work on this because it's not getting any better, in fact it's probably getting worse."
Max mentions the high rate of male suicide in the UK. In 2023, the male suicide rate was 17.1 per 100,000, compared to the female rate of 5.6 per 100,000, according to the Samaritans.
The highest rate and biggest increase was in the North West (14.7 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 12.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2022). "I think there needs to be some action," Max continued.
"We can't just continue to sit and watch people die around us. We can take a stand and we can provide options."
To stand up against the issues plighting people across the country, Max is even considering setting up a programme or community with his friends to try and support individuals who may be struggling.
Max has also set up a Go Fund Me page to help support Jamie's mum Julie through this difficult time and raise funds for funeral expenses.
