Mum whose son took own life after stay in adult psychiatric ward blasts government assurances

A family whose son took his own life after being ­inappropriately placed in an adult ­psychiatric ward have rejected government assurances that those occurrences are “rare”.

At least 80 children are placed in adult wards every year, and consultant paediatrician Jane MacDonnell, whose teenage son Harris took his own life in despair after a horrific series of events in an adult ward, said: “Eighty is far too many to be described as rare.”

The family are ­campaigning to end the practice of children being placed in adult wards after Harris, 19, died in August 2020.

Harris suffered mental health issues following a diagnosis for autism and was admitted to Huntlyburn in the Borders town of Melrose.

The talented musician and rugby player was so distressed that he might be returned to Huntlyburn after his mental health took a turn for the worse, that he climbed an electric pylon to his death rather than be sent back to the adult ward.

Dr MacDonnell said: “No child should be placed in an adult psychiatric ward. It terrified Harris, and it was completely inappropriate to place him there.

“What we need to see is an end to children being treated in adult wards. We want to see adequate numbers of children’s spaces in specialist units, and right now there are clearly not enough if at least 80 children a year are unable to find a place.

“We believe if Harris had been placed in an appropriate setting, he would have received the proper care and support. Instead, he was sent to a locked ward where he was surrounded by adults with severe addiction and psychiatric issues.”

The Crown Office announced last week that a preliminary Fatal Accident Inquiry hearing into Harris’s death would take place on August 7 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

The inquiry will explore the circumstances of his death, and, in particular, the medical care delivered by NHS Lothian and NHS Borders.

Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads death investigations for the Crown Office, said: “The tragic death of Harris MacDonnell occurred in circumstances giving rise to significant public concern and, as such, a discretionary FAI will he held.”

Health minister Neil Gray has promised there will be an increase in child places in future, but he angered Harris’s family by telling Parliament that they are only placed in adult wards in “rare circumstances”.

He said: “We expect ­children and young people who require in-patient mental health care to be seen in age-appropriate units.”

He added: “To enhance future provision we are providing funding to health boards to develop regional adolescent intensive psychiatric care units. We currently have 54 in-patient beds across Scotland for children and adolescents.

In some circumstances, I hope they are rare circumstances, sometimes they need to be seen in adult services. But this must be done following guidance, while ensuring it is avoided wherever possible.”

The Scottish Conservative shadow social justice minister Miles Briggs, who has been supporting Harris’s family, said: “This answer is simply not addressing the issue. Children should not be treated in adult psychiatric wards.

“What we need to see are far more places being made available, and better use of the intensive mental health teams who can go into patients’ homes.

“Ministers must put more pressure on health boards to find a solution. We will not let this issue be kicked into the long grass. Action is needed.”

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