A mental health advocate and blogger who died after ingesting a substance that arrived in the post whilst on a psychiatric unit in Stockport 'did a lot of good' helping her scores of social media followers, an inquest into her death has been told.

Jurors also heard that Beth Matthews, 26, was banned from opening her own post due to fears over her safety whilst an inpatient at a separate hospital, near her home in Cornwall, several months earlier.

Beth, 26, died on March 21 last year after opening a package containing a 'small, plastic screw top container' with 'foreign wiriting on' in front of staff and swallowing the 'poisonous' substance inside it, whilst an inpatient at the Fern Unit at The Priory's Cheadle Royal hospital, the hearing has previously been told.

READ MORE: Mental health blogger, 26, died after taking poisonous substance bought online, inquest hears

She suffered a cardiac arrest after swallowing the substance, which the M.E.N is not naming and which she is said to have bought online, and was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital but could not be saved.

In 2019, Beth, a support worker who worked with children, jumped from a bridge suffering 'severe' injuries which caused her 'significant pain and disability' the inquest has been told.

Beth Matthews died whilst an inpatient at the Fern Unit at The Priory's Cheadle Royal Hospital

Following the incident, Beth, from from the village of Menheniot near Liskeard, wrote about her experience in a blog and gained a 'huge' following on Twitter.

And at the second day of an inquest into her death at South Manchester Coroner's Court in Stockport, her consultant psychiatrist in Cornwall, Dr Alind Srivastava, spoke about the impact she had on others.

"She had a large Twitter following and she did a lot of good with social media, in helping other people and explaining what had happened to her," he said.

Beth first received treatment for her mental health as teenager in 2011 and in 2018 was diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) the hearing was told.

The condition is characterised by a 'sense of emptiness, rejection and abandonment and 'difficulties with relationships' the doctor at the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said.

On April 6, 2019, she was picked up by police on a bridge having threatened to jump and was taken to hospital. She was assessed the following day however she was not detained under the mental health act.

The inquest is being heard at South Manchester Coroner's Court in Stockport

The following day she returned to the same bridge in the incident where she suffered the serious injuries.

The inquest was told she received months of treatment for her physical injuries and was also detained under the Mental Health Act until she was discharged in August 2019.

For around 18 months following this there was a period of relative 'stability' in her mental health the hearing was told.

"I don't think she was ever fully thrown from thoughts of wanting to be dead, but there were periods where it was very much in the background and was not an immediate concern," Dr Srivastava said.

There was then a 'deterioration' in her mental health in the Spring of 2021, around the two-year anniversary of her fall from the bridge.

Her care-co-ordinator Nicholas Beasley said: "She was under the understanding that after the two years, recovery from her physical injuries would be minimal and she was really struggling with that. She felt she didn't want to continue living with physical injuries that she sustained."

In May 2021 she reported 'feeling suicidal after struggling with a child with challenging behavior' at work Dr Srivastava said.

Police were alerted and she was detained initially under Section 2 of the mental health act, before then being detained under Section 3, which lasts for an initial six months, a decision Dr Srivastava said she was 'very angry' at.

"She was a high risk of suicide in the community" he said.

"I am not saying there was no risk in hospital," he added. "There was still a risk with Beth being in hospital. She was very determined to end her life and it was so different to previous admissions. I just couldn't discharge her into the community."

"That doesn't mean there's no chance of completed suicide in hospital," he went on to say. However, he agreed with Assistant Coroner Andrew Bridgman overseeing the inquest, that the 'opportunity is reduced' due to safety measures in place in hospital.

The inquest heard that in July 2021, whilst on Fletcher Ward, 'it was determined she would not be allowed to open her own incoming mail and packages.'

Dr Srivastava said it had been included in her care plan as she was deemed to be a 'risk of secreting items that may be used to self harm.' "It was a safety measure to try and keep her safe," he said.

He said the decision to put the restriction in place was a 'balancing act' between keeping her safe and 'giving her some autonomy of what she could do.'

Beth Matthews who was a well-known mental health blogger with thousands of followers

"At times it was considered safe to just observe her opening the post. Other times she was not allowed. It depended on the risk," he said.

"It is my recollection she received parcels throughout with varying degrees of control," he added. "She asked for help on Twitter and received parcels."

Asked if she ingested anything whilst on the Fletcher ward Dr Srivastava said she swallowed some batteries and that medics decided the safest thing to do was to allow her to pass them. He said he was also unsure where the batteries came from.

Asked if restrictions were ever put on her use of the internet he said: "I don't remember the risk of access to the internet. As she did have a Twitter following and she did engage."

The inquest was told Beth appealed her detention with a tribunal hearing her case over three days in August and September 2021, but the decision was upheld.

Shortly afterwards, the decision was made to transfer her from the Fletcher Ward at Bodmin Hospital – an acute psychiatric ward – to a specialist unit for people with her condition.

"We don't have a specialist unit of that type in Cornwall, so it would have to be outside Cornwall," Dr Srivastava said.

"I think the nearest was in Weston-Super-Mare. It can be difficult to find a bed," he said, adding that local NHS funding also had to be arranged.

The inquest heard a referral to the unit in Weston-Super-Mare fell through as they declined to accept her and that a transfer to the Fern Unit at The Priory's Cheadle Royal hospital in Stockport was arranged and took place in November 2021.

"She was excited, she was looking forward to it but she also had worries and was nervous about how it would go," Dr Srivastava said. Adding 'there were periods of despair where she felt nothing would make a difference.'

The hearing was told it appeared that following the transfer it appeared she was engaging however there was then a 'deterioration" in her mental health and a 'disengagement' with the specialist Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) she was receiving.

The inquest, expected to conclude next week, continues

Proceeding

Helplines and websites

Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.

For support for people feeling suicidal, if you are concerned about someone or if you are bereaved by suicide see http://shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk

CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death. No one needs to feel alone as they deal with their grief. www.greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk

Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.

PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

Beat Eating Disorders: Beat provides helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders. These helplines are free to call from all phones. Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677, Studentline: 0808 801 0811, Youthline: 0808 801 0711. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Anorexia & Bulimia Care: ABC provide on-going care, emotional support and practical guidance for anyone affected by eating disorders, those struggling personally and parents, families and friends. Helpline: 03000 11 12 13. www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/

Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org

For information and links to charities and organisations that can help with substance abuse, visit https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/drugs/

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