www.preventsuicides.com
The differences between mental illness and psychiatric injury are often not recognized. Understanding the differences could alter the verdict, perhaps from suicide to manslaughter.
YOU DECIDE
Is Mark's story simply a suicide, or was it a case of psychiatric injury?, in other words, should a charge of manslaughter be laid with the police. I am leaning towards manslaughter, based on the evidence
TO FORCE A CHANGE AND FOR A POSSIBLE CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER TO BE LAID
vote@preventsuicides.com
CONTENTS
1. MARK'S STORY
2. DIARY OF CAMPAIGN
the night-shelter for the homeless.
He dies the same day.
My brother, Mark Connor, committed suicide
Platform 2, Basingstoke Station on 13th April 2005
SUICIDE OR MANSLAUGHTER ?. YOU DECIDE
WE CAN FORCE AN INQUIRY AND CHANGE - VOTE ONLINE
WHO WAS MARK CONNOR ?
Mark was 55, and worked as a teacher and a care officer/giver to the disabled. He was an intelligent, sensitive, and compassionate man. He was popular in the community and well liked by all. From time to time he suffered from depression, but always managed to pull himself out of it.
WHY DID HE DO IT ?
Two months ago, Mark was admitted to Parklands Clinic, Basingstoke, United Kingdom, suffering from depression. He had recently made an attempt to take his own life. Mark was placed under the ?care and supervision? of Dr Best. Whilst Mark was still very ill, Dr Best and the Parklands Clinic decided, that Mark was to be discharged on Wednesday 13th April 2005, and sent to an overnight shelter for the homeless, in Winchester. Mark was still deeply depressed, anxious and terrified of what was to become of himself.
Because of this decision, Mark lost all hope and consumed by desperation, isolation and fear, decided to end the pain by jumping into the fast train at Basingstoke Station, the train that was to take him to Winchester. It was his protest too. His body was so obliterated that it took two days to identify him from his fingerprints. We believe that the manner in which he was treated by the NHS was unbelievably cruel and a travesty of social norms and justice. We cannot possibly allow this type of treatment and decision making by the NHS and Social Services to continue unchallenged. Send your vote today online, to help us force change. It could your family member, friend, or work colleague next.
THE RESULT
A devastating and traumatic event for family, friends, the train drivers, railway staff and commuters, a senseless loss of life for the living, and damaging to our economy. Millions of pounds are spent, on train stoppages, trauma counselling and a myriad of other costs involved in this type of suicide. Shouldn't that money be spent more wisely, on widening the safety net for our society? We believe that this was a case of psychiatric injury* (see an important footnote at the bottom of this page).
SUMMARY
Although everyone makes their own decisions, a decision can be clouded by depression. An illness is an illness, mental or physical. Consumed by a sense of helplessness and loneliness, after and being shunted off to a night-shelter for the homeless, Mark gave up. Gave up living. Over 8000 people commit suicide in the UK each year. Thats right, over 8000. Official figures are not accurate. They are probably understated. Over 250 people take their own lives by jumping in front of trains in the UK each year. How many of these cases are preventable, preventable when someone starts getting charged with manslaughter. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary situation.
Go to www.preventsuicides.com, and vote, click on vote@preventsuicides.com, and simply put the words, Yes for change, in the subject line. You would be agreeing that:
1. An independent inquiry into the circumstances of Mark's suicide should be initiated.
2.Recommendations from this inquiry forwarded to a commission.
3.A "NHS Suicide Commission" be formed, which investigates and formulates policy, to ensure: Our health system (the NHS) provides both a "case-by-case" and "suicide risk assessment" analysis of every potential suicide victim.
A word for the NHS, doctors and care workers. The differences between mental illness and psychiatric injury are often not recognized. Understanding the differences could alter the verdict, perhaps from suicide to manslaughter.
ENTRY FOR: 5 MAY 2005
Dear Friends and Supporters
A huge thankyou for everyone who is supporting this cause, everyone who has either sent in a vote supporting the objectives of preventsuicides.com and others who have offered other assistance. Members of the general public, railway staff, the media, lobbyists and politicians have responded to this appeal
and have provided support, advise, and most importantly, their vote. A vote to force change the treatment of patients in mental illness facilities in the UK and to attempt, as much as possible, to prevent suicides.
The campaign started on the 2 May 2005, in Basingstoke, and each day, a protest was held outside the Basingstoke Rail Station, with the full support of the Southern Western Railways authority and the British Police.
Many thanks to the 3 newspaper groups who covered the initial protests, and have indicated their support for further coverage. Particular thanks to Steve, Chief Editor of the Basingstoke Observer, who is watching the campaign unfold, and giving us maximum exposure in the Basingstoke, Hampshire area.
He has committed himself to keeping a personal eye on the campaign and story. Also thanks to Pierre and Ian at the newspaper.
Over 8000 leaflets were handed out in 3 days, and the number of votes we have received reached a staggering 622 in just these 3 days. A staggering 7.75%, which experienced campaigners tell us, is and indication of overwhelming support.Thankyou.
The petition for an inquiry into the suicide of my brother Mark, and for a commission to be formed , that initiates and changes in the NHS, addressing the subject of suicide is growing. Within a few weeks, I would have started building and developing this site. The site, will be, work in progress, and its main objective, of course, will be two-fold, to garner , create, and develope a strategy to force change, and secondly, perhaps a resource centre, covering the subject of suicide, for suicide survivors, students, researchers, and maybe even perhaps potential suicide victims.
Should anyone have any idea's,to enhance the campaign or web-site, I would value any comments or suggestions you may have. Send any emails to mark@preventsuicides.com, they will all be welcome and answered. Also, perhaps add it to your "Favourites List" and watch how this campaign unfolds.
During the 3 days of protest, I was fortunate to make many new friends at the Station who were either directly or indirectly affected by this tragedy. Thankyou for your encouragement. Bye for now......
Dear Friends and Supporters
My protest moved to the London area today. This afternoon, a protest will be held outside the HOUSE OF COMMONS. I figured that all the focus around Parliament and Westminster today (election result day), would provide maximum exposure. I hope to get a City newspaper to come down and cover the protest this afternoon, and hope that the massive security around doesn't interfere with my objectives. The "yellow jackets" around watched with beady eyes as I went through from Baker Street Tube to Westminster Tube clutching my banners and leaflets. I really needed 4 pairs of arms today. I will report tommorow on the protest this afternoon.
After a long day, was locked into the Westminster Tube Station where police tried to prevent me from leaving with my posters.They bullied and hassled me,but gave up, when they realised I wouldn't be taking their undemocratic behaviour. Initially in the day I had advised the Police of my intentions,purely out of respect.I didnt want to appear arrogant,and needed their co-operation.On arriving at the gates of the Houses of Commons a second time, a new set of,burly pre-warned policemen had been stationed there. They qwere waiting for my, I am sure.Previously in the day, I had spoken to a very polite policeman and policewoman, who advised me that my protest and campaign was quite within my rights, as long as members of the public did not complain. They doubted very much that anyone would. The new guys must have been given orders from above, as I was harrassed, threatened with arrest and they kicked down my posters a few times. Only when I stated that it was a lawful protest and that they could arrest me, but I would be back, and members of the public started jeering at the police, did they back off. Thankyou for those people who stood up for me and gave the police a piece of their minds. A retired police colonel who I met is making an official complaint to the Thames Valley Police, the Independent Police Complaints Commitee and her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary about the incident and the way I was mistreated. Fortunately we have photo,s of it all.(see the links above). Thankyou Colonel. We handed out several thousand leaflets, and had a very good response. So many people related almost identical horror stories as Mark's.
Then I was off too Londons National Portrait Gallery, where Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Labour Party where celebrating not only their election victory but Tony's 52nd Birthday. I was followed by plain clothed policemen half way across London, who made no effort to conceal themselves. They where threatening and intimidating, but I just smiled back. I wasn't let in for the celebrations, but made sure they all saw me as they arrived. The show was stolen by Otis Ferry, son of legendary rock singer, Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music), who lunged at Tony Blair screaming "I am tired of this Government". Otis was protesting his right to kill foxes aka.Blair's decision to put a ban on fox hunting. Otis likes to kill foxes, and I'm trying to prevent the NHS killing patients. Tony, Cherie and MP's had smiles on their face on seeing Otis, but looked rather sheepish at my posters. The celebreties smiled though. Thanks, one even raises the thumbs up sign at me. I won't mention his name though. Nevertheless, Otis made front page of the Herald Tribune, Daily Express and Times on Saturday, and second page of a few others. The media prefering not to draw attention to my cause, after all, the editors of the big City papers need to start off the new term of office with Blair, on a good footing. Who knows what "favours" might be denied them, for printing and giving coverage to a story such as Mark's. Way to real and horrific. Well, Otis and I got carted off to the station for "questioning", actually illegal, because we were released promptly. It was a delaying tactic on their behalf. Well all I can say, was that I did manage to get a few very influential people in the City to back my cause. I have decided not to give details of further protests on this site, because I dont want to pre-warn the authorities, but now, I am getting ready for a much, much, much larger campaign. So,keep an eye on the diary. In closing, happy illegal hunting Otis, hope you "bag a few". Don't care much for it myself, but I do admire your conviction that you have the right to protest and stand up for what you believe in. Thanks for all those that took posters, and my condolence to those that shared similar stories, of family members and friends who had been mistreated and totally ignored by the NHS and Social Services. Your stories, I have made a collection of, and these will all be used in the Commission of Inquiry. Please encourage others to send stories to mark@preventsuicides.com. At this point,we have almost 3000 votes, and they are coming in fast and furiously. Thankyou very much indeed for every one of them. You are doing the right thing.
Dear Friends and Supporters
Parklands Hospital denies the allegations. Go to www.thisisbasingstoke.co.uk or www.thisisbasingstoke.co.uk/hampshire/basingstoke/news/BASINGSTOKE_NEWS_NEWS1.html. The site belongs to the newspaper The Basingstoke Gazette. Thanks for your support John and Saraha, however, the denial of allegations by the Parklands Clinic is a blatant lie, and they know it.