Copyright manchestereveningnews
A young woman who had ‘delusional beliefs’ and ‘hallucinations’ was released from mental health care in the months before her death despite ‘only speaking to staff by text’. Emily Whittaker, from Salford , was just 21 when her body was found at a canal close to Hannover Street in Audenshaw on July 20, 2024. An inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court heard how Emily, who was diagnosed with ADHD and autism, may have been suffering from psychosis or ‘emotional unstable disorder’ which she hid from mental health workers. The court heard how the former Eccles College student believed she was mixed race, ‘Cuban and Mexican’, despite her being of White and Irish descent, and hid her toiletries as she believed that her skin was being bleached against her will. Emily, who was sectioned at an all-female mental health ward in Salford in January 2024, also refused to have her blood taken, believing that it was ‘going to be sold to the Kardashians’. But Emily’s mother Julie told the court that her daughter had become ‘very good at masking’ and would hide her delusional beliefs from mental health professionals. The court learned that when Emily was questioned, she would often proclaim that she did not have any mental health issues and did not need any support. During evidence, members of staff who cared for Emily for 10 days at the medical mental health ward in Salford were spoken to. She was ultimately discharged and referred to the community mental health team due to not exhibiting any signs of ‘psychotic behaviour’ or ‘delusional speech’. Health officials believed that she may have been suffering from ‘emotional unstable disorder’ instead. While there, Emily only spoke to staff through text, did not shower due to fears of her skin being bleached and would not eat food unless provided by her mother. The court heard how Julie believed that certain teams of the Greater Manchester Mental Health set up were ‘dismissive’ of Emily’s case and that she did not receive the ‘right care’ or was looked after by staff with adequate experience. Julie pointed out that Emily was ‘very good at masking’ and would only speak to staff via text to avoid voicing her delusions. When she asked staff members on the witness stand why Emily’s actions weren’t viewed as psychosis, she was told that it was ‘in keeping with her autism and mutism,’ and that her texts were ‘coherent’ and ‘nothing came up of that delusional content’ while she was on the ward. Julie has gone on to carry out numerous campaigns to raise awareness about the treatment of neurodivergent people in the workplace and care system. Speaking about her daughter, Julie described Emily as a popular young woman who was ‘the life of the party’ and ‘lit up any room she was in’, she told the court ‘Emily died too young and there was no easy way to say it.’ She also proclaimed that Emily ‘will forever be remembered and remain in her heart.” Consultant pathologist, Patrick Waugh, recorded her cause of death as hanging. The inquest continues.
