CYP Now - Lack of autism awareness among failures contributing to teen’s death, inquest finds

The lack of an “autism-focused approach” in the mental health support of a teenage boy who died after discharging himself from inpatient care was among “significant failings” which contributed to his death, an inquest has found.

Chris Nota was diagnosed with autism and other learning disabilities. Picture: Family handout/Inquest

Chris Nota, 19, died on 8 July 2020 after falling from a bridge shortly after discharging himself from a residential placement at Hart House, in Southend, where he was receiving mental health care, Essex coroner’s court was told.

The inquest, held between 3 and 9 January, heard that Chris, who was diagnosed with autism and learning disabilities, died following a cycle of repeated admissions to A&E and mental health wards over the preceding months. In intermittent discharge periods, he was frequently found to be engaging in high-risk behaviours, and more than once was found on a bridge.

At the time of his death, he was under the care of mental health services at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).

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