Peter's story
Peter has been in contact with mental health services all of his adult life. When he first became an Elmore client, he had problems with alcohol and poly substance misuse, along with a varying psychiatric diagnosis that alternated between schizophrenia and 'personality disorder'.
Peter was also offending, which was largely petty and could be understood as cries for help. Examples included breaking into a family friend's house with the aim of eating and sleeping - and, perhaps, trying to communicate the level of his distress.
Peter's spells in prison became lengthier over time. This was partly because the courts were confused by him and requested psychiatric reports, and also because he sabotaged his releases by either refusing to attend court or sacking his solicitors.
Our team worked with Peter inside and outside prison, and in the cells of the magistrate's court.
With Peter spending more time inside prison, our team became increasingly concerned about his mental state and specifically his propensity to attempt suicide. We liaised with prison and local community mental health teams to communicate our concerns and to request, for Peter's safety, that he be moved to a secure psychiatric setting.
Elmore closed Peter's case when, following a suicide attempt in prison, Peter was offered a placement in a secure psychiatric environment.