Applause rang out and a guard of honour was formed along a hospital corridor as a mother-of-four was taken for surgery to donate her vital organs.
Shannon Shine, from Blackley, was just 29 when she took her own life after a long battle with mental illness. In June of 2020, Shannon was found in Cheetham Hill and a police officer gave her CPR before paramedics arrived.
She was rushed to North Manchester General Hospital, but medics were ultimately unable to save her. However, as reported in the Manchester Evening News at the time, her heart was kept beating long enough for an organ donation operation to take place.
Three years on, however, a coroner has found that more could have been done by Greater Manchester’s mental health services to help her in her years of struggle with illness.
Shannon was ‘full of fun’ and ‘very loving’, said her family, but had been plagued with years of mental health complaints. She had moved from London to Manchester with her young children in 2019.
She was hoping to access housing near to her sisters and mother in north Manchester but had been admitted to hospital in February and May 2020 following attempts on her own life. Shannon's family said she suffered for years with mental health illness, including bipolar disorder and multiple personality disorder.
As a result of the second attempt, Shannon had not been allowed to live alone with her children, leading to her moving to temporary accommodation, read the record of inquest completed by Manchester area coroner Zak Golombek. At the time of her death, she was living in a homeless B&B and had been separated from her children, added Farleys Solicitors, which represented Shannon’s family at the inquest into her death.
But on June 1, 2020, Shannon was discharged from her community health team – known as the home-based treatment team – run by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust (GMMH) ‘when they deemed that she no longer required their input’, continued the record of inquest. Shannon remained at the temporary accommodation on her own.
Just seven days later, on June 8 2020, Shannon was found on Cardinal Street, Manchester, close to her temporary accommodation. She was admitted to North Manchester General Hospital and died on June 11, 2020, from the injuries sustained by hanging, the record of inquest said.
The coroner ruled that Shannon died by suicide, but ‘found a number of failings in Shannon’s care’, said Farleys Solicitors. “The coroner found a number of failings in Shannon’s care, but found that it would be speculative to say whether these contributed to her death," a statement from the solicitors read.
“The coroner found there was insufficient appreciation of Shannon’s vulnerabilities, including her domestic situation, the protection she required and the effect on her. The coroner highlighted that the systems in place didn’t prevent Shannon from spiralling and ultimately taking her life.
“The coroner found a specific failure in the care provided by GMMH, including general inadequacies and with multi-agency working.”
Home-based treatment teams are intended to provide a safe and effective alternative to in-patient care by helping people through times of mental health crisis in their own home environment. The solicitors said of the inquest that findings: “Shannon was a vulnerable woman with a known history of suicide attempts, and there were questions around the effectiveness of frameworks from multiple agencies which should have ensured Shannon’s safety.
“One of the central issues that the coroner considered was ‘nearest relative’ requests.”
A nearest relative can ask the local social services authority for a Mental Health Act assessment on their loved one to address whether they need detaining or guardianship.
“The coroner found that Shannon’s family had made a nearest relative request for Shannon to have a Mental Health Act assessment, but that the home-based treatment team worker did not act appropriately and the fact that no steps were taken thereafter was a failure in car," the solicitors added.
“The court heard evidence from a number of GMMH witnesses who were not familiar with the nearest relative process or policies, and had not received training on nearest relative rights."
Dr Arasu Kuppuswamy, Chief Medical Director at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said: “We express our heartfelt condolences to Shannon’s family and all who cared for her.
“We are committed to learning and improvement, and since Shannon’s death, we have reviewed and developed our procedures for how we deliver and document initial assessments, risk management and care planning. This has been embedded across all our Home-Based Treatment Teams. We have also updated our training for staff around risk management and open conversations to support this work.
“We understand this comes too late for Shannon and our sympathies remain with everyone who has been affected by her death.”
GMMH has been rated 'inadequate' by the CQC and has been beset by major problems. These include young people dying on mental health wards, followed by admissions medical notes were doctored; harrowing treatment of vulnerable people at inpatient facilities caught on camera; and staff caught in racism rows.
The record of inquest was completed on December 6, 2023, when the inquest concluded after the main hearing in September.
In the wake of Shannon's death, Marieanna raised concerns about her mental health care, reported in the M.E.N. saying: "As a family we did everything we possibly could to protect her, show her she was worthy, wanted, loved and admired.
"We begged and pleaded for a long time with mental health teams and other authorities to section Shannon for her own safety. We were not taken seriously. Unfortunately we knew that if she wasn't sectioned, Shannon would not be here with us much longer.
"So here we are now. Shannon just needed help. She needed professional help and protecting from the demons in her mind. It should have been given to her.
"She would still be with us all today if she had been given this help."
In June, 2020, Shannon's family gave the Manchester Evening News permission to publish the video of her being wheeled into surgery for the organ transplant process, which was filmed for them. Shannon is seen on a hospital bed being taken to theatre.
Applause rings out as she passes along a corridor. Her sister, Marieanna McKenna, 24, also from Blackley, holds her hand at her side.
The operation was successful and Shannon's heart, kidneys and liver will now go to those in critical need, her family said. They said she was a passionate advocate of organ donation and spoke of their immense pride at knowing she is now helping others live.
Marieanna said at the time: "There are people out there who will receive Shannon's organs and get a second chance of life, a better quality of life.
"Her heart was full of love and strength. It gives us all warmth to know her heart will carry on beating.
"As Shannon made her journey to theatre to donate, the hospital staff lined the corridors to applaud her bravery and courage. I could feel Shannon looking down with a warm heart of pride and a huge smile knowing finally how much she really was loved, admired and thought of.
"She touched the hearts of everyone who knew her and knew of her. She could not live with herself, but she always wanted to give life. Now her heart will go on.
"It makes us really proud."
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/
The family said they wanted to share Shannon's story and speak out to thank all those at the hospital who were involved in her care. Marieanna described them as heroes for the compassion, consideration and dignity they showed.
"Even after Shannon was pronounced dead they continued to treat her, her children and our family with the same respect," she said. "Death felt so final to us. The hospital staff changed that for us.
"They created beautiful memory boxes for the children to have and remember her with forever. They recorded her heartbeat for us to listen to always.
"They took Shannon's handprints for us and so many more little things that meant the world to us. We really got to say goodbye to Shannon in a beautiful way. That's all thanks to them."
