The grieving family of a popular and kind 29-year-old fun-loving soul have told how they feel she was let down at the time she initially began to struggle with her mental health and that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic led to a further decline which ultimately resulted in her untimely death.

In the eight months before she died, Rhiannon Masters, who lived in Exeter and worked as a digital marketing officer for Devon County Council, is said to have called Devon's urgent mental health service 13 times regarding either self-harm or suicidal ideations.

Health records revealed at least 50 previous hospital encounters listed in the last three years before she died at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on August 20, 2022 - just two months away from celebrating her 30th birthday.

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In a statement read out during an inquest into her death at Exeter Coroners Court yesterday, October 10 - also World Mental Health Day - her family described her as being a very likeable, kind, thoughtful and intelligent person who enjoyed socialising when her mental health was good. She was said to have loved music and running, the latter of which she had gained medals for.

Her family said: "She had a great sense of humour and fun. She did not take life or herself too seriously."

However, she was said to have begun suffering with her mental health in her early 20s and went on to have multiple hospital admissions after taking overdoses.

Her family said: "We believe the pandemic certainly did not help with her recovery. Her mood was very up and down."

In the weeks leading up to death, she was said to have been 'not so bad on the whole' and in good spirits. It was added she was on long-term sick leave from her job and was a bit worried about money.

Shatter the Silence

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The DevonLive Shatter the Silence campaign aims to encourage anyone struggling to reach out and talk - to either a friend, relative, charity or a professional. Our campaign content will highlight just how important talking is and the difference it can make.

Ultimately, we want to reduce the number of people who die by suicide in Devon. We will highlight where to get help and show how talking has helped people come through difficult times in their lives. We will speak to families who have lost loved ones to look at the lasting impact of suicide and attempt to dismiss the inaccurate belief many people who are struggling manifest that they are a burden on the ones they love. We will look at the devastation caused to those left behind in the hope that even one reader might change their mind if they have considered taking their own life.

We will speak to people who have survived a suicide attempt and have accessed counselling or other mental health services to show that things can get better. We will speak to Samaritans volunteers about their vital work in Devon and how they are on hand 24-7 to listen. And we will offer guidance on what to say to someone who is struggling so people feel more confident to have that conversation.

Do you have a relevant story to share? Email emma.slee@reachplc.com.

WHERE TO GET HELP:

SAMARITANS offers support in a range of ways, including a self-help app, email support or by calling 116 123 for free 24 hours a day

NHS Offers advice on how to access mental health support

TALKWORKS is a free-to-access NHS service offering a variety of treatment and support for adults (aged 18+) living in Devon (excluding Plymouth)

CALM offer a free, confidential helpline 0800 58 58 58 and webchat, 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life's problems

HUB OF HOPE is a mental health support database that can signpost you to local support services

ANDY'S MAN CLUB offers men a chance to talk with like-minded people. They have clubs in Devon as well as nationally

KOOTH & QWELL provides free, safe and anonymous online mental wellbeing support, including moderated peer support forums and text-based counselling, to all residents living in Devon (aged 11+)

PETE'S DRAGONS provide free-to-access support to all residents living in Devon who may have been bereaved by suicide at any point in their lives

THE MOORINGS is an emotional support service that provides telephone and face-to-face support via a drop-in service at its bases in Exeter, Barnstaple and Torquay. It is a non-clinical service but provides emotional support, signposting to other services and other general support that is tailored to the people who access it.

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Devastated by her death, her family said in reflection: "The main concern the family have is how long she had to wait for treatment and support for her mental health. In the early days, doctors dismissed it and (it) got to the point where she had to be really poorly to be helped."

They added: "We do feel if things had been more nipped in the bud it would have led to a better outcome. It seems people have to become really unwell before they get help and by then it is often too late."

Rhiannon's mental health records confirmed she had a long history of anxiety, depression and self-harm. She had been under the care of her GP, Devon Partnership Trust's First Response Service, Exeter's Personality Disorder Service, and a care coordinator.

Following a mental health assessment after another overdose on July 30, 2022, she was deemed to not require physiatric hospital admission and ensured she would engage with services in the community. At the time of her death, supported accommodation was being sought for her as a matter of urgency.

Her care coordinator told in a statement that their last meeting had been the day before she died. She appeared largely positive, although anxious about some life events, but agreed that supported accommodation would be helpful and denied having any current self-harm thoughts.

Around midnight of that day, she took another intentional overdose and contacted the First Response Service who called 999. She had consumed a substance she had previously been known to take in an attempt to end her life.

When an ambulance arrived she was described as alert but due to the toxic amount of her overdose, she was admitted to hospital. Initially, she stabilised but a few hours later she deteriorated quickly.

Despite all the best efforts of doctors and extensive treatment, her condition continued to worsen and she passed away. The cause of her death was confirmed as an overdose.

Speaking during the inquest, her stepmum said: "We loved her and tried to support her very much. We did not know much of what had happened due to patient confidentiality of medical services.

"It was a very difficult situation to be in. Rhiannon was not telling us and it's very hard when you hear it as we realise there was so, so much we did not know."

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Exeter and Greater Devon, said: "Her self-harming behaviour escalated in the weeks before her death and medical professionals considered a mental health admission, but it was said to not to be in her best interest."

She continued: "I am satisfied that on the balance of probabilities, she has taken her own life and intended to do so based on her significant history of depression and previous attempts to take her own life."

Addressing her family, she added: "It is very apparent to me she was very much loved and cared for and I can see you miss her dearly. Sometimes people who have very significant mental health difficulties struggle to express themselves a lot to family and friends and, therefore, you could not possibly have known what was going on. She was clearly in a mental health crisis."

Following the inquest, paying tribute to Rhiannon, her mum, dad and stepmum said: "Rhiannon’s bright personality shone through to everyone that she met. She was a kind, thoughtful and fun-loving soul who was liked and loved by so many people and is missed every day by her family and friends who are devastated by their loss.

"Rhiannon was so much more than her illness; she was clever and had worked hard. She had a good job, enjoyed nice holidays and owned her own home.

"Sadly, Rhiannon’s mental health deteriorated after many years of illness; the years surrounding Covid being the most difficult. As with all health services, the family feel that the pandemic impacted not only on Rhiannon’s mental health but on her care, and treatment from the mental health team and support from her family was sadly not enough to save her."