A health visitor with a first class
honours degree in nursing was found hanged after she became tormented by her
severe skin condition.
Hollie McEwen, a dedicated
professional, first suffered psoriasis as a 12-month-old but it eased with
treatment. However, it later reappeared due to stress and the 28-year-old
became so depressed she took her own life at home.
Her father Andrew told an inquest:
'Her condition played a large part in what she decided to do.
'She was a beautiful, vibrant young
woman who felt she couldn't deal with the condition. She felt this was the only
way out.'
The Doncaster hearing was told she
had suffered from bulimia as a teenager. Her family believed the eating
disorder stemmed from her ongoing issues with her skin condition.
Her mother Wendy said: 'Her skin
condition played a large part in her problems as a teenager and when older I
feel this was at the root of all the problems.'
Hollie's body was found just two
days after she had sought medical help for her depression.
She had spent a long time writing
several letters to loved ones which were found in a bin.
Her father, who saw her the evening
before the tragedy said: 'She was a happy, young woman who enjoyed her work and
social life but she kept everything very close to herself. We had a good laugh
on that last night and there was no indication she was unhappy.'
Mrs McEwen said her daughter, who
lived in Scawsby, Doncaster, had treatment for psoriasis over the last few
years involving hospital stays and steroids after suffering anxiety attacks.
Hollie had enjoyed a family holiday
in Turkey but was 'down' after being given an anti-depression drug by her GP
which failed to lighten her mood.
'She was an intelligent, determined
and organised young woman,' she said. 'I told her to keep going with the
tablets and give it time.'
When told about her daughter's death
she said: 'I was in absolute shock. Her death has left a large hole in our
family. I still can't understand why this has happened.'
Hollie's brother Andrew told the
inquest: 'She was a happy young woman who enjoyed her work and social life. She
kept everything very close to herself.'
He said there was no indication that
she was unhappy the evening before she died. He added: 'As a teenager she was always
conscious of her skin condition and it worried her greatly.'
Hollie's neighbour Elaine Lunn found
a note from her on the morning of Friday, May 23 asking her to call the
emergency services so Hollie's family would not find her body.
She said: 'I believe she had planned
it. There was nothing to suggest prior that she was going to do anything like
this. I feel totally distraught.'
She added: 'She was a very
attractive young woman. She was energetic, thoughtful and caring and studied to
further her career. She was very bright and intelligent.'
Nurse and friend Angelina Deighton,
who trained with Hollie at Sheffield Hallam University, said she knew her
psoriasis had worried Hollie and she said she was having treatment and
counselling.
'She was always the life and soul of
our friendship group,' she said. 'She was always bubbly. She had a boyfriend
for a few months in 2013 but it fizzled out and she wasn't concerned about it.
'Lately she described being tired,
down and just not coping. She had been to her GP for anti-depressants but she
didn't think counselling would help her and she tried to help herself.
'I tried time and time again to get
her to seek help. She had many friends who thought she would never do anything
like this.'
Behavioural psychotherapist Jessica
Dunn, who had a session with Hollie just two days before she died, said Hollie
had started to feel anxious and overwhelmed at having to plan a friend's hen
party.
'She was well presented with
immaculate hair and make-up,' said Miss Dunn. She had 'dark thoughts' but had
no intention of carrying them out. 'She told me "I wouldn't put my family
through that".'
Hollie had been avoiding her friends
and not socialising because her mood was so low. After breaking down in tears
in the witness stand Miss Dunn said: 'I had no concern for her safety.'
Culled from UK Daily Mail
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