Bournemouth Coroners’ Court heard how Judith Kelly of Highcliffe took fatal overdose after going missing

A woman who suffered with severe health anxiety was found dead in woodland in Highcliffe, an inquest heard.

As reported in the A&T, Judith Kelly (55), of Merley Drive in the town, was reported missing from her home on 21st October last year.

She was found dead two days later.

Bournemouth Coroners’ Court heard how Mrs Kelly had visited her GP in September 2023 amid general health concerns, as well as suffering from insomnia and suicidal thoughts.

However, she was judged not to pose a “significant risk” by the community mental health team and was offered no support.

Her husband Noel told the hearing she had suffered with mental health issues on and off since around 2015, but towards the middle of 2023 “it seemed to go to a different level”, he explained.

Commenting on the decision by the community mental health team, he added: “She was so taken aback. She said, ‘The people who are supposed to help me, won’t’.”

The hearing heard that a day after learning she would not receive help, she was hospitalised following an overdose.

But on her return home around two weeks later she appeared calmer and was sleeping better.

“I honestly felt as if she had turned a corner,” he added.

The court heard Mr Kelly reported his wife missing on 21st October after returning home from the shops and discovering she had gone out without her mobile phone or keys.

“Significant resources” were deployed by police, the inquest heard, in addition to volunteer search-and-rescue teams, before she was found in nearby woodland in Chewton Common.

The investigation revealed Mrs Kelly had stopped at two shops after leaving her home that day, buying painkillers in both.

Mr Kelly also discovered numerous empty blister packets hidden in a cupboard days later, the inquest heard.

Her cause of death was given as fatal [painkiller] intoxication.

Consultant psychiatrist at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Dr Suzy Linwood, told the inquest that upon her discharge, Mrs Kelly spoke of hope for the future and “that things could be better”.

She added Mrs Kelly’s proximity to others in a main hospital setting was not helpful for her health anxiety and she was “keen” to get home.

She was later assessed at home by care co-ordinator Monica Keeble, who said despite feeling low Mrs Kelly had shown “significant insight” by acknowledging her health issues were psychological rather than physical.

Mrs Kelly said she had “occasional” suicidal thoughts but they were “brief in nature”, and the pair arranged to meet the following week.

Coroner Grant Davies, recording a conclusion of suicide, said Mrs Kelly had been a keen walker who also enjoyed cycling and travelling.

Her health anxiety had begun to dominate her life, he said, and she felt as if there was something wrong with her that the doctors were missing. She had often told her husband “doctors don’t know everything”.

He added it appeared Mrs Kelly had been “stockpiling” painkillers for “some time” in addition to the packets she purchased on the day she went missing.

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