A FATHER who struggled with his mental health took his own life after his children were taken away by social services and put in foster care, an inquest heard. 

Tom Allen, a 40-year-old self-employed plasterer, was found at his mother's house in Ruskin Avenue, Dalton, on August 4, 2023.

Coroner Margaret Taylor ruled the death as suicide at an inquest held at  Cumbria Coroners' Court on March 14. 

A series of personal letters to his family members penned before his death were admitted into evidence and factored in Ms Taylor's conclusion of suicide. 

The court heard his grandfather Richard found him. The police gave evidence that referenced a comment he made to an officer when he was in a state of shock: "What's he done that for? He had his kids taken off him by social services - that's why he's done this." 

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Ms Taylor did not list the decision from social services to take his children as a missed opportunity that could have changed the outcome of his death. She said: "Social services always have very difficult decisions to make and their focus is always on the children."

The court heard evidence that both Mr Allen and his wife had significant issues with their mental health, which at points led to Mr Allen being sectioned at the Dova Unit in Furness General for self-harm and a previous attempt to end his life. His diagnosed bipolar affective disorder was listed on his record of inquest.  

However, the coroner did investigate his interactions with mental health teams in Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust. Mr Allen was on an unallocated list meaning that he had not been assigned a practitioner and therefore each time he called mental health services he spoke to whoever was on duty at that time. 

The court heard that now anyone who is prescribed lithium, which is used to treat bipolar disorder, will not be left on an unallocated list. The court also heard that new training sessions had been put in place as part of an action plan drawn up after Mr Allen's death although the the coroner heard that the trust has issues with recruitment. 

Mr Allen's mother was at the hearing.  "What's very clear to me is that you as a mother and the rest of the family are very supportive of Tom and did all you could to support him," Ms Taylor said. 

"However much you love someone, living with bipolar is difficult but you were always there." 

If you need someone to talk to call Samaritans on 116 123.