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Mental health killings – a crisis in care?

When people with severe mental illnesses become acutely unwell crisis teams should step in to help but File on 4 hears claims the system is failing - with tragic consequences.

Last month Alex Sartain took a homemade gun and shot his neighbour James Nash dead in his front garden.
The 34 year old then fled on his motorbike before he lost control and fatally crashed on a winding tree-lined road. His family had made repeated requests to mental health services for help as they saw his condition deteriorate. But they say no help was forthcoming and days later he killed 42-year-old James, a popular artist and children’s author. Alex Sartain's family say the mechanic suffered paranoid schizophrenia and had become acutely unwell in the run-up to the killing.
File on 4 investigates whether mental health support is always available when people need it most. And reporter Paul Connolly hears concerns that mental health professionals are not always quick enough to act on evidence a person suffering severe mental illness may be intending to harm others - with tragic consequences.

Reporter Paul Connolly
Producer Ben Robinson
Editor Carl Johnston

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37 minutes

Last on

Sun 20 Sep 2020 17:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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  • Are people with severe mental illnesses being failed when they need help most?

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  • Tue 15 Sep 2020 20:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 20 Sep 2020 17:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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