Jamie Barlow

On 28th of August 2012 I commenced an investigation into the death of Jamie Raymond Barlow, aged 29. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 25th of March 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was that Jamie Barlow took his own life.

Jamie had been a patient of the Suffolk Early Intervention in Psychosis Service and had previously been discharged from the service having appeared to make progress and to have reasonable insight. The General Practitioner then contacted the service again having had an unusual phone call from Jamie in which he had claimed to have drunk bleach 10 days earlier (though whether this had, in fact, happened was questioned medically at the time and was not certain) and was expressing other comments that caused concern. There was not felt to be a need to see him as an emergency that day, but there were clearly communication problems about the plans that were then made for a subsequent assessment of Jamie. Jamie then failed to attend an appointment at the GP’s surgery. The Mental Health Services were concerned about visiting him at his home, as there had been mention of him having weapons there, and police were not willing to conduct a welfare check without mental health personnel accompanying them as, based on the information they were given, they believed it might exacerbate the situation. Sadly, Jamie’s body was found hanging some days later, in the area of his home but not easily visible.