Transgender man took own life outside a hospital after 'losing all hope', inquest hears

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A 29-year-old transgender person who lost all hope took their own life outside a hospital despite 'screaming very loudly for help to stay alive', their mother has told an inquest.  

Matty Sheldrick felt 'dismissed, ignored and lied to' by mental health workers before leaving A&E.

They later hanged themselves in the grounds of Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on November 4 and died on November 22, 2022.

Mx Sheldrick, who was autistic and had ADHD, moved to Hove in November 2021 with their rescue dog Lola, hoping to live an independent life and did so 'with so much hope' that with the right support, they could live a happy and productive life, their mother Shelagh Sheldrick said.

But after a decline in their mental health, they were admitted to the short-stay ward at the hospital for suicidal thoughts on September 5 2022, where they stayed for more than three weeks.

Matty Sheldrick with their dog Lola. The 29-year-old had lost all hope their mother told Horsham Coroner's Court after her child took their own life outside A&E in Sussex

Ms Sheldrick told Horsham Coroner's Court that Mx Sheldrick, who had been using he/him pronouns for several years but had started using they/them recently had 'reached out for help that did not appear to exist'.

She described how on the ward, Mx Sheldrick was yelled at by a mental health nurse, threatened with being discharged when they said they felt unsafe and held down and sedated when they were having a meltdown.

Ms Sheldrick said the sedation began her child's distrust of the mental health professionals at the hospital, who worked as part of Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust.

In contrast, she said they spoke fondly of health care assistants and security staff at the hospital, working under University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

'All that was required was kindness and compassion,' she said.

'The actions and non-actions of both trusts contributed to Matty's decline in mental health and his death.'

The inquest heard how Mx Sheldrick's mental health deteriorated and they tried to kill and harm themselves while in hospital.

They were discharged on September 30 before calling an ambulance with further fears of suicide on November 2 to return to A&E, where they were assessed under the mental health act and a decision was made not to detain them.

Mx Sheldrick had moved to Hove in November 2021 with their rescue dog Lola, hoping to live an independent life but struggles with mental health forced a short stay in hospital with suicidal thoughts

Dr Robert Sparks, who did the assessment, said that it is well known that hospital environments such as short-stay wards can make a person's mental health deteriorate.

'Every attempt should be made not to have people in hospital, particularly in that sort of environment,' he said.

Dr Sparks also said there was no hospital that Mx Sheldrick could be sent to, and that 'mental health services are in crisis' but in hindsight, he would have detained them.

Ms Sheldrick said Mx Sheldrick's family are 'beyond heartbroken' at their death and that their 'journey in life was so hard' and 'suffered so much when reaching out to those he thought would support and protect him.'

She added that Mx Sheldrick told his brother: 'He didn't want to die, he wanted help.'

Mx Sheldrick's GP Dr Sam Hall from WellBN told the hearing there is a 'massive gap' in crisis provision relating to mental health, which is a system issue across the country.

'There is a gap people are falling into and I feel we're all just fighting fires trying to keep people safe,' Dr Hall said.

The doctor also highlighted that people who are trans and have neurodivergence are often misunderstood and misinterpreted.

'Someone like Matty needs constant companionship to be able to navigate the world,' Dr Hall added.

Asked about describing Mx Sheldrick as a vulnerable person, Dr Hall said: 'I would say that about anybody that is autistic, ADHD and trans.'

Mx Sheldrick, originally from Surrey, was described as a 'kind, bright, creative, sensitive, gentle soul' and had 'great hopes for the future, he really wanted to use all he had learned to help others', according to their mother.

They performed spoken word and flooded social media with their artwork, Ms Sheldrick added, and began illustrating for a new group with the Clare Project in Brighton, a support group for trans and non-binary people, while living in the area.

Ms Sheldrick recalled Mx Sheldrick saying: 'I really feel I have found my people here.'

The inquest continues.