Cardiff: Student nurse took her own life due to mental health condition, coroner rules

An inquest heard how the 26-year-old student nurse in Cardiff was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder back in 2019.

A coroner has ruled that a student nurse from Cardiff took her own life because of her mental health condition.

Bronwen Morgan had criticised mental health services before she died but the coroner ruled her treatment and care was not a factor in her death.

An inquest heard how the 26-year-old student nurse in Cardiff was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder back in 2019.

Bronwen Morgan took her own life in August 2020 at the age of 26 while training to be a mental health nurse.

After multiple attempts to end her life, on Thursday 27 August 2020, just four days before her birthday, she took herself into a hotel in Cardiff where she took her own life by using a toxic substance that she bought online from Ukraine.

Police traced her phone to a Premier Inn hotel in Pentwyn, where she was found unresponsive with a letter beside her.

Student nurse took own life days after criticising mental health support

The letter highlighted frustration with her care and treatment plan.

The final day of the inquest into her death began at Pontypridd Coroner's Court on Friday 20 October.

The Coroner said that "Bronwen died from suicide and her self-harm was a deliberate cause of her death."

Bronwen represented Wales in 'white collar' boxing for charity, where she was nicknamed 'Bombproof Bron'

He also added that it was "not as a result of the treatment and care she received from the health board" but instead it was "due to her mental health condition."

The inquest heard that "all the decisions made by the health board were appropriate and no misdiagnosis contributed to her death."

Mental and physical health worsened for half of people due to living costs

The coroner spoke about the access to the toxic substance used by Bronwen.

Next week the coroner will work with authorities to look into how this substance "can be stopped from being accessed and bought online".

The coroner ended the inquest by offering "condolences to Bronwen's parents and her wider family."

Last year Bronwen's parents spoke to ITV Wales and said they were desperate for lessons to be learned from their daughter's death.

Last year, speaking to ITV News, Bronwen's parents, Haydn and Jayne Morgan, described their daughter as a "beautiful, warm and kind hearted person" and the "most organised, on the ball, caring, compassionate, dedicated and generous daughter".

Depression among Year 7 starters increases post-pandemic, study finds

Haydn said on several occasions, he and Jayne pleaded with the mental health services in their local health board for help, as they feared they could not keep Bronwen safe.

Bronwen had made previous attempts to take her own life, but her parents say it was the letter she wrote just days before her death that was the catalyst to not allow her death to be another statistic.

For help or support:

MIND

Mind is a mental health charity which promotes the views and needs of people with mental health issues.

It provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem, and campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Back to top

CALM

CALM, or the Campaign Against Living Miserably, runs a free and confidential helpline and webchat – open from 5pm to midnight every day, for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems. It also supports those bereaved by suicide, through the Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP).

  • Phone their helpline: 0800 585858 (Daily, 5pm to midnight)

Back to top

PAPYRUS

For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice you can contact PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org

Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK. PAPYRUS aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by breaking down the stigma around suicide and equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.

HOPELINEUK is the charity’s confidential helpline service providing practical advice and support to young people with thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned about a young person who may have thoughts of suicide.

HOPELINEUK is staffed by trained professionals, offering a telephone, text and email service.

Back to top

SAMARITANS

Samaritans is an organisation offering confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

  • Phone 116 123 (a free 24 hour helpline)

  • Email: jo@samaritans.org

Back to top

YOUNG MINDS

YoungMinds is a resource with information on child and adolescent mental health, but also offers services for parents and professionals.

It is the UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people's mental health, and wants to make sure all young people can get the mental health support they need, when they need it

  • YoungMinds Textline - Text YM to 85258

  • Phone Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 4pm)

Back to top

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know...