Melanie Leahy stated that the investigation must “set an example to the rest of the mental health providers across our nation to get their establishments up to standard or I fear many, many families will suffer the same losses” .
Twenty days after being taken for inpatient care in Essex, her son Matthew Leahy passed away in 2012.
Since then, Ms. Leahy has maintained that she has not been provided with the full story of her son’s death.
Her unwavering advocacy has resulted in the Lampard Inquiry, which is looking into more than 2,000 mental health deaths.
As she answered the question, Ms. Leahy said, “When Matthew got sick, we went to so-called professionals for help, to help us understand what was happening and to help us find a way to help our son.” She had pictures of Matthew on a table in front of her.
“As the child’s parent, it was my responsibility to keep them safe. I’ve devoted my entire life to raising him morally and providing him with a good childhood.
“I raised him into maturity with love, encouragement, support, and guidance. However, my son passed away after eight days in the state’s custody. I’ll never be able to accept that.”
