Man found dead in hotel room 'had so much to bring to the world'

James Neil, 36, from Whiston(Image: Neil family)A man who took his own life just two days after being discharged "had so much to bring to the world". James Neil, from St Helens, was found unresponsive in the bathroom of a JD Gym on April 27 last year, having deliberately taken an overdose in a nearby park.Ambulance services were called, and he was taken to Whiston Hospital for treatment. He was discharged from the emergency department at around 1.20am on April 28 and moved to a ward.A one-hour meeting with a mental health nurse the following day found he presented a high risk of harming himself. An inquest this week heard the 36-year-old had a history of self-harm and suicide attempts and a lack of engagement with mental health services.However, it was decided he could leave the hospital after he claimed he had no further plans of ending his life. He left the hospital later that day and booked into a room at the Eccleston Arms in St. Helens. An appointment was arranged with the CRHT team for 4pm on April 30; however, he did not attend.He was found dead in his hotel room at around 11.55am the following day, May 1, with notes indicating his intentions found nearby. A post-mortem found the most likely cause of death was toxicity from an overdose.In a tribute to her son, James's mum Pat Neil said: "James was a joyful, happy little boy. He was very loved, always quite inquisitive, and wanted to know about everything. He was a very, very bright child."He was always a very kind person. When he asked you how you were, he genuinely wanted the answer. He cared deeply for all of his family and would worry about us if we weren't well."He was a very loved uncle. All his nieces and nephews totally adored him because he always brought the fun. He was the uncle who would spend the time talking, listening, doing gym exercises with his nieces, playing Fortnite with his nephews, going to the park, and getting giddy. But he was also warm and sensitive if they were upset."Mental health supportHelplines and support groupsThe following are helplines and support networks for people to talk to, mostly listed on the NHS Choices websiteSamaritans (116 123) 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.CALM Campaign Against Living Miserably (0800 58 58 58) is a leading movement against suicide. It runs a UK helpline and webchat from 5pm to midnight 365 days a year for anyone who has hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.PANDAS (0808 1961 776) runs a free helpline and offers a support service for people who may be suffering with perinatal mental illness, including prenatal (antenatal) and postnatal depression plus support for their family or network.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 an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.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.Amparo provides emotional and practical support for anyone who has been affected by a suicide. This includes dealing with police and coroners; helping with media enquiries; preparing for and attending an inquest and helping to access other, appropriate, local support services. Call 0330 088 9255 or visit www.amparo.org.uk for more details.Hub of Hope is the UK’s most comprehensive national mental health support database. Download the free app, visit hubofhope.co.uk or text SHOUT to 85258 to find relevant services near you.Young Persons Advisory Service – Providing mental health and emotional wellbeing services for Liverpool’s children, young people and families. tel: 0151 707 1025 email: support@ypas.org.ukPaul's Place - providing free counselling and group sessions to anyone living in Merseyside who has lost a family member or friend to suicide. Tel: 0151 226 0696 or email: paulsplace@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.ukThe Martin Gallier Project - offering face to face support for individuals considering suicide and their families. Opening hours 9.30-16.30, 7 days a week. Tel: 0151 644 0294 email: triage@gallierhouse.co.ukJames' Place - supports men over 18 who are experiencing a suicidal crisis by providing quick access to therapy and support. Call 0151 303 5757 from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm or visit https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/But she said James had suffered from bouts of severe depression from a young age. She said: "It was from puberty, really. He started to struggle to emotionally regulate himself. In his formative years there was low-level self-harm and not feeling confident, and he spent quite a number of years where he became less sociable and more isolated. He had always been a child who liked to be outdoors and liked to be in the woods"As he got older they became more frequent. He would be in crisis, and then you'd be able to support him and bring him back to a more level position, and he'd be more engaged, he'd be going out, and he'd be working. He'd be engaging more in life, and when he did, he did it with gusto and happiness."It was frequent that we did get him back to that happier place. It was just his crisis periods where he really did need support.James Neil(Image: Neil family)"He was a bright, intelligent man who had so much to bring to the world, and the world is a very different place for us without him."I would want anyone in a similar situation to advocate for the best possible care they can get and push even when they might not want to be restricted in any way. Sometimes that needs to happen to keep people safe."If anyone is saying they don't want to be in this world, whether they act on that or not, that's a serious issue."On this occasion we didn't get the opportunity to question clinical decisions. But anyone who does get that opportunity should question every single thing to make sure their loved one is kept safe."Mental illness is a real crisis and one of the biggest killers, and yet attitudes towards it are not always as they should be. My message would be don't shy away from it."There's an expectation that you can go through the normal processes of life, keep appointments, attend GPs, take medications routinely, keep credit on phones, and keep contact, but when someone has mental health problems, often those small things they can't achieve. Yet there's an expectation that, because they're given an appointment, they're going to attend it. But that's not something people can always do when in crisis."