Woman who took her own life feared being alone

A 72-YEAR-OLD woman seeking full time care took her own life when she fell into the Avon Gorge.

An inquest heard Valerie Bright, of Whitwell Road, Hengrove, took a taxi to Clifton Down shortly after a period of support from housing charity Missing Link.

She was found on a grass bank at the side of the A4 Portway by a climber on December 17, 2011.

Avon's Deputy Coroner Gail Elliman recorded a verdict of suicide at Flax Bourton Coroner's Court.

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The court had heard how Ms Bright, a retired saleswoman, had been living with a psychological disorder which brought a perceived pain in her abdomen with no physical manifestation.

Her pain was assessed by doctors and mental health specialists, who referred her to Callington Road psychiatric hospital in Brislington.

She was discharged but the disorder, coupled with anxiety and depression, meant Ms Bright feared the isolation of being alone.

During the inquest, Ms Bright's cousin Betty Bush questioned the decision to discharge her.

She said: "I think that she shouldn't have come out of Callington Road.

"I have always felt it is just not possible for GPs to deal with mental health. She had enough people around her but never enough people to ring."

Clare Pinder, Ms Bright's care coordinator, agreed "she didn't meet the criteria" for full time care.

She said: "She was telling me she didn't want to leave the hospital but I didn't know what further could have been achieved by staying."