Laura Winham, a 38-year-old woman with mental health issues, was found dead in her flat after three years. Her family believes she was "left to fend for herself" by social services despite police warnings.
Winham had been provisionally diagnosed with delusional disorder and her disability benefits had been cut off. Her family believes she stopped buying food and died of starvation.
In 2017, police made a referral to adult social services about Winham after visiting her flat. They were concerned that she did not have a phone, job, or friends or family locally. Social services attempted to contact Winham by phone and letter, but closed the case when they received no response.
Winham's family believes she died in November 2017, as she stopped ticking off days on her calendar, making online food shops, and writing in her diary.
An inquest into Winham's death concluded that there had been a "lost opportunity" for social services to visit her and assess her needs. However, the coroner found it was "not possible to conclude" that there was a connection between this mismanagement and Winham's death.
Winham's family has urged the public to put themselves in their shoes and imagine a loved one in a similar situation. They believe Winham should never have lost her life to mental health and hope no other family goes through what they have.
12 Comments
Donatello
“This article seems to oversimplify a complex situation. It’s unfair to blame social services without knowing all the details.”
Raphael
“Reporting like this runs the risk of oversimplifying mental health issues and bureaucratic challenges.”
Leonardo
“I worry the family’s perspective is being used to skew public opinion rather than fostering a balanced discussion.”
Raphael
“There’s insufficient evidence to pin her death solely on social services. The article ignores other contributing factors.”
Michelangelo
“It sounds like a tragic loss, but sometimes life’s circumstances are beyond any agency’s control. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions about neglect.”
Africa
“This article misses the nuance—the social services did what they could under difficult circumstances.”
Muchacha
“Such cases show that protocols can sometimes miss the mark. It’s time for a review of how we treat those with mental illness.”
Leonardo
“It’s easy to blame the system in hindsight, but sometimes personal choices and circumstances also play a role.”
Bella Ciao
“It’s disturbing to consider that administrative errors might have contributed to her suffering and death.”
Habibi
“This piece feels a bit sensationalized. If social services simply followed protocol, it may not be fair to condemn their work here.”
ZmeeLove
“Before we rush to judgment, we need to acknowledge that the details are murky. The inquest couldn’t establish direct mismanagement.”
Muchacho
“Laura’s case is a painful reminder that one misstep in social services can cost a life. We must hold them accountable.”