Grappenhall family hope ‘lessons learned’ after sad death of daughter

Olivia Russell died on September 19, 2021, at Warrington Hospital after being found unresponsive at her family home.

Now her family hope her death can 'shine a spotlight on the processes and support for a generation of young people who are suffering from mental health issues'.

Police and paramedics were called to the address on Grappenhall Close, where the body of a woman was found in the garage.

She was taken in an ambulance to Warrington Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Ms Russell, known to most as Liv, was described by her family as ‘diligent, hard-working, creative and artistic’.

In a statement read to the court by area coroner Victoria Davis, they said: “She was our much-loved daughter and the centre of our world.

“She was an absolute joy to know and was admired from near and far by all who knew and loved her.

“She took perceived unfairness or injustice to heart and fought against it. As a mixed-race young woman, she felt understandably strongly about diversity and fairness,” they added.

Pictured: Olivia Russell (Image: Supplied)
The inquest, held at Cheshire Coroners Court last Tuesday and Wednesday, heard how Olivia worked as a merchandiser in the head office at Marks and Spencer – a job she took on shortly after finishing her degree at Loughborough University in 2019, having been furloughed from her previous role at the retail company Arcadia Group.

The ambitious graduate took out a lease on a flat in London in 2020 and began working for the retail giants under lockdown conditions and the newly introduced hybrid working – with her first induction meeting with her team held on Microsoft Teams.

It was said that Ms Russell suffered with anxiety from being a young adult and had various contact with her local GP practice, Stretton Medical Centre on Hatton Lane, to find help in coping with this.

She made several appointments specifically during the two years leading up to her death as her battle with mental health intensified.

The court was told how Olivia was pro-active in trying to improve her mental heath and would regularly exercise, be outdoors, read and attend meetings with a therapist to try and control her illness.

Her family said: “She was offered anti-depressants but never wanted to take them, so endeavoured to try every other natural method to relieve her anxieties.

“She felt shame and stigma around having to medication as well as fearful for how they might affect her.”

Dr Theobalds, a doctor at the surgery, spoke of one appointment in December 2018 where Ms Russell spoke to him of her anxiety symptoms and her ‘perfectionist’ personality trait.

He told the courts that Olivia began attending Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).

On October 30, 2020, she had another appointment with a different GP and reported ‘severe anxiety’ but it was acknowledged she suffered ‘no suicidal thoughts’- something that was noted throughout every appointment.

Dr Theobalds said: “She was suffering from a relapse of her mental health.”

She was prescribed 10ml of Citalopram, a drug used to treat depression but that can also be used as an anti-anxiety medication when used at that smaller dosage.

A funding page was set up after the death of Olivia in which more than £15,000 was raised for Papyrus charity (Image: Supplied)
Dr Theobalds explained that it would be practice for a GP to advise that it can take four to six weeks for the drug to take full effect – although there was no evidence on record that this had been disclosed to Ms Russell at the time of the appointment.

The inquest heard that between the months of November 2020 and August 2021, there was no communication between Olivia and the GP but repeat prescriptions of the drug were being issued.

During an appointment with the surgery in August, it became clear that Ms Russell had decided to take herself off the medication.

A member of the family Renda Campbell asked Dr Theobalds if it would have been discussed with Olivia the potential risks and side effects of coming off that drug.

He responded: “We may not always mention the impact and side effects of stopping.”

The court heard that during this time, another potential contribution to Olivia’s anxiety was her job at Marks and Spencer which she had confided in both her parents and Dr Theobalds that this was causing her stress.

The court was informed that Ms Russell had been struggling with the job role and had been trying to communicate this to her line manager, Caroline Lindridge.

While Ms Russell was working to pass her probation at the company, and from her family’s perspective she was given no reason to expect to fail this, during a meeting with Ms Lindridge on May 5, 2021, Olivia was informed her probation period had been extended.

Further questions around if Olivia ever was told she had passed her probation by Ms Lindridge at the time were highlighted during the inquest.

Ms Russell’s family told the inquest that ‘circumstances of Liv’s employment had an extremely detrimental impact on her mental health’.

Christian Deer a HR representative from Marks and Spencer confirmed that Olivia had been told she had passed this but there was no written proof of this.

Olivia attended Stretton Medical Centre on Hatton Lane (Image: Google Maps)

During a meeting in August, Olivia confided in Ms Lindridge of her struggles with mental health and was given some time off.

While taking this rest from work she was informed that she would be moved to another team – a move that was made to try to relieve stress and struggles that Olivia had voiced about her current role.

However, her family said this decision also had an impact on Olivia’s mental health.

In the lead up to the inquest, Mr Deer conducted an investigation into issues raised about Olivia’s employment and her dealings with her line manager.

The court heard how he spoke to various employees who worked with Olivia as well as Caroline Lindridge, who was meant to appear at the inquest but could not due to health reasons.

During the investigation it was highlighted through questions from the family that Mr Deer had not checked Olivia’s HR file and that there was no written record or proof of multiple meetings held between the line manager and Ms Russell during her employment.

Therefore, the evidence given in the inquest was based off Ms Lindridge’s memory which the coroner determined as ‘contradictory’.

Just six days before Olivia’s death, the court heard how she made an appointment with the GP and spoke of being ‘teary, overwhelmed, and had insomnia’. She had moved home from London to be with her family during the difficult time.

Her medication was raised to 20ml after this appointment.

Questions were raised to the court about if advice had been given on that appointment of side affects going back onto the medication.

Dr Theobald said advice would be given but the GPs may not discuss every single side effect of the medication as there are several.

Area Coroner Victoria Davis concluded the inquest, summarising that Olivia Russell died on September 19, 2021.

“I find that was a deliberate act by Liv to end her own life,” she stated.

The cause of death was identified as 1a Asphyxia.

Referring to the evidence provided by Caroline Lindridge, Ms Davis said: “I do not find the evidence from Ms Lindridge totally accountable.

“The evidence was largely based on her memory and was contradictory.”

She added that Marks and Spencer representatives have confirmed that ‘hybrid working policies have evolved since 2021’.

Lastly Ms Davis reviewed the national health guidance given for taking medication such as the one prescribed to Ms Russell and was ‘satisfied’ with this.

“I am not satisfied that this guidance is given to every patient,” she added, and requested that she be informed of the outcome of the review that will be carried out by Stretton Medical Practice in light of the inquest.

Olivia’s father, Shaun Russell said: “We have lost our beautiful daughter Liv and we would like to take the time to shine a spotlight on the processes and support for a generation of young people who are suffering from mental health issues.

“As a family, we are in no doubt that the above issues contributed to Liv’s death.

“We requested that the coroner consider these issues within the scope of the inquest to fully understand her state of mind at the time of her death and so that, where appropriate, lessons are learned from her death.”

Marks and Spencer and Stretton Medical Centre have been approached for a comment.

If you have been affected by issues in this article, for practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice please contact PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org