My daughter hanged herself after she was sexually abused as a child

My daughter hanged herself aged 28 after she was sexually abused as a child – I pleaded with doctors to keep her in hospital after she overdosed but they sent her home

Jade-Ann Williams, from West Yorkshire, died aged 28 in March 2021
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A mother whose daughter hanged herself after years of torment over childhood sexual abuse says she feels let down by mental health services.

Jade-Ann Williams was only 28 years old when she died in March 2021. An inquest last week recorded a verdict of misadventure.

Jade’s mother, Pippa, 53, from West Yorkshire, who supported her throughout her battle, has spoken for the first time about.

The mother-of-three said: ‘Jade’s father died when she was little and, in the years after, she developed mental health issues.

‘I always presumed she was traumatised by her dad’s death. But as an adult she confided in me that a man who had helped our family, after my husband died, had actually been sexually abusing her. I couldn’t believe it.

A mother whose daughter hanged herself when she was 28 years old has said she feels let down by mental health services. Jade-Ann Williams (pictured right as a five-year-old) was sexually abused as a child and never recovered from the trauma

‘All along, I’d thought he was helping us with our grief, and he was abusing my child.

‘Jade struggled with her mental health, and I saw her every day. The day she died, I was in hospital myself, with kidney problems. I will always blame myself; if I’d been there, I feel as though I could have saved her.’

Jade was the middle of Pippa’s three children and was a happy little girl with no problems. But when she was eight years old, her father John passed away suddenly aged just 30.

Pippa says: ‘John died on the sofa, there was no warning, he had seemed perfectly healthy. He was looking after the children whilst I was at work. It was thought he had an undiagnosed heart problem, and we were all devastated.

‘In the months afterwards we had lots of support from family friends and neighbours. One man in particular was very kind, and I was grateful.

‘Jade really missed her Dad. She developed separation issues, she refused to go to school, she became anxious and upset. I worried about her.’

After school, Jade worked as a carer before being accepted onto a programme as a trainee radiographer. She moved in with her boyfriend and Pippa hoped this was the end of her problems.

But Jade struggled with social situations and had to give up her radiography training.

Jade (pictured as an adult) worked as a carer and had been accepted onto a programme to train as a radiographer when she died

According to Jade’s mother Pippa, her second eldest child had a close relationship with her younger sister Ellie (pictured together)

Jade-Ann (pictured right) was only 28 years old when she died in March 2021. An inquest last week recorded a verdict of misadventure

Pippa says: ‘Jade lived near me and I saw her every day. She had lots of happy days; she loved to bake cakes and she was an animal lover. She enjoyed spending time with her sister, Ellie. We had dogs which she adored, and she was a dog walker too.

‘But she had very difficult patches; she’d threaten suicide and I had to get her into hospital. She took overdoses and harmed herself. I was always worrying what she might do next.’

In 2019, Jade confided in Pippa that she had been abused as a child by a man who had befriended their family after the death of her father.

Pippa says: ‘I was shell-shocked. Jade told me a family friend, who had really helped after her dad died, had sexually abused her. The betrayal was horrific.

‘I had trusted this man, and accepted his support whilst I was grieving. He was dead by the time Jade told me, so she had no chance of justice and I don’t think she was strong enough to face court anyway.

Jade’s mental health continued to deteriorate throughout her adult life and she was in and out of hospital

Jade’s mother, Pippa (pictured together), 53, from West Yorkshire, who supported her throughout her battle, has spoken for the first time about

Pippa(pictured with Jade) said: ‘Jade’s father died when she was little and, in the years after, she developed mental health issues’

‘All along, I’d thought her mental illness was due to her father’s death. Of course, that affected her. But her trauma was caused by sexual abuse. She told me she felt absolutely worthless.’

Jade’s mental health continued to deteriorate, and she was in and out of hospital.

Pippa says: ‘It was difficult to get the right support and treatment. It was my worst fear that one day, she’d go through with it.’

Early in 2021, Pippa was herself admitted to hospital with kidney stones and sepsis. In March that year, she returned to hospital in severe pain.

Pippa says: ‘I knew Jade was spiralling. She’d taken two overdoses in the previous days. She’d been in hospital herself but was sent home, despite me pleading with doctors to keep her in.

Jade (pictured with her sister) was the middle of Pippa’s three children and was a happy little girl with no problems

Jade pictured with her late father and her sister. When she was eight years old, her father John passed away suddenly aged just 30

In 2019, Jade (pictured with the Disney character Minnie while on holiday) confided in Pippa that she had been abused as a child by a man who had befriended their family after the death of her father

Pippa says: ‘I was shell-shocked. Jade told me a family friend, who had really helped after her dad died, had sexually abused her. The betrayal was horrific’. Pictured, Jade

Jade’s mental health continued to deteriorate, and she was in and out of hospital. Pictured, Jade as a teenager

‘Whilst I was stuck in hospital she messaged, saying: “I love you. Please don’t come to my house you will find a dead body.” I was frantic. I discharged myself and rushed to her house and her friend called the police.’

But Pippa was too late. Jade was found dead, aged 28. Pippa and her family were heartbroken.

She says: ‘Jade had her problems, but she needed support. If I’d been there, I felt I could have saved her as I had so many times before. I felt frustrated with the doctors who had sent her home.’

An inquest last week at Bradford Crown Court heard Pippa and her family felt let down by mental health services, and had wanted Jade to be admitted, before her death.

Early in 2021, Pippa was herself admitted to hospital with kidney stones and sepsis. In March that year, she returned to hospital in severe pain. Pictured, Jade as a child, aged 12

Pippa says: ‘I knew Jade (pictured) was spiralling. She’d taken two overdoses in the previous days. She’d been in hospital herself but was sent home, despite me pleading with doctors to keep her in.’

But Pippa (pictured with Jade) was too late. Jade was found dead, aged 28. Pippa and her family were heartbroken

Pippa says: ‘Jade (pictured with sister Ellie) had her problems, but she needed support. If I’d been there, I felt I could have saved her as I had so many times before. I felt frustrated with the doctors who had sent her home.’

According to Yorkshire Live, the assistant coroner said ‘the conclusion of doctors, that Jade did not meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act, was a “reasonable, balanced analysis” at the time it was undertaken.’

A verdict of misadventure was recorded, with coroner Crispin Oliver saying it was clear Jade’s self-suspension at home was a deliberate act but he concluded it was a misadventure rather than a suicide because Jade had alerted a friend and her mother and because her past actions were characterised by parasuicide.

Pippa has been supported and assisted by Nic Stojanovic of Ramsdens solicitors.

An inquest last week at Bradford Crown Court heard Pippa and her family felt let down by mental health services, and had wanted Jade (pictured with her sister) to be admitted, before her death

According to Yorkshire Live , the assistant coroner said ‘the conclusion of doctors, that Jade did not meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act, was a “reasonable, balanced analysis” at the time it was undertaken.’ Pictured, Jade with her family

A memorial to Jade, including bright yellow flowers, roses and cuddly toys

Pippa (pictured) has been supported and assisted by Nic Stojanovic of Ramsdens solicitors

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