THE GRIEVING mum of tragic Zena Hughes believes her daughter would still be here today if she hadn’t been “let down badly” by mental health teams.

The Cambrian News reported on the inquest of the 21-year-old mother and supermarket worker last week, after she was found hanged at her Bridge Street flat in Aberystwyth on Thursday, 29 March.

Coroner for Ceredigion, Peter Brunton, returned a verdict of suicide, and said Ms Hughes had been in contact with mental health services since December 2012 after suffering with “very depressive illness”.

But Ms Hughes’ mother, Sally Roberts, told the Cambrian News this week she believed her daughter was failed by Hywel Dda Health Board’s mental health services.

In particular, Mrs Roberts said her daughter “would still be here today” if she hadn’t been refused a place at a secure facility because there was no space.

“I do believe they let her down and more could have been done,” Mrs Roberts said.

“They were thinking of admitting her, but they didn’t because they said there was nowhere with a space in Wales.

“They let her down badly and I believe, if they had spent more time helping her, she would still be here today.”

Elizabeth Ryan-Davies, director of mental health and learning disabilities for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We pass our deepest sympathies to the family following this tragic death.

“We provided a great deal of information to the inquest, and, as a result, it is a matter of public record that we were involved in the care of this lady and had visited her frequently in the week prior to her death to support her and to administer prescription drugs.

“If the family wish to discuss any further matters or concerns over the care of Ms Hughes we will of course speak to them directly and investigate.”

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