Father, 31, took his own life after only seeing GPs over the phone

29th November 2023

‘Devoted’ father, 31, took his own life after only seeing GPs and mental health workers over the phone rather than face-to-face despite years of mental health struggles

Frazer Wilkie told a nurse hours before he died that his moods were improving
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A ‘devoted’ father took his own life after hadn’t been seen by a doctor face-to-face for months despite having a long history of mental health difficulties.

Frazer Wilkie, 31, who lived in Cwmbran after moving to Wales from Angus in Scotland in his mid-20s to be with his older sister, died on January 20 this year.

Mr Wilkie, a call centre worker for Lloyds Bank, had told a mental health nurse hours before took his life that his mood had been improving, an inquest at Newport Coroners’ Court heard.

He was discovered dead at this home by his sister Claire, with a post-mortem examination concluding that his cause of death was asphyxia from hanging, contributed to by depression.

The father was surrounded by heartbreaking notes written to his young daughter, telling her how much he loved her and to assure her that his death was not her fault.

Frazer Wilkie, 31, who lived in Cwmbran after moving to Wales from Angus in Scotland in his mid-20s to be with his older sister, died on January 20 this year

This comes as a major study found that online and telephone GP appointments can miss serious illnesses and put patients at risk of deadly errors, with several safety incidents involving clinicians assuming that a diagnosis made on a remote consultation was definitive rather than provisional.

Mr Wilkie’s younger sister, Jennifer Wilkie, who is working with Papyrus – a charity to deter young people from taking their lives – told WalesOnline: ‘He approached his GP many times but it didn’t work in any way whatsoever.

‘The GP and mental health services never saw Frazer face-to-face. It was all done over the phone.

‘He was placed on waiting list after waiting list which were just too long for him to wait on. He was also directed to online resources rather than direct support.’

In a statement read out at Mr Wilkie’s inquest hearing, his GP at the Rogerstone Practice in Gwent, told of how a conversation had occurred between a doctor at the practice and Frazer about the 31-year-old father considering taking his own life as early as May 2021.

But the practice said in a statement that Frazer had ‘never disclosed suicidal plans or suicidal ideation’ during telephone conversations.

In a significant event report the practice said it had ‘learned about the referral pathway and that they should see mental health patients face-to-face despite how busy a day list is’, adding: ‘We will be more proactive to see mental health patients in face-to-face settings.’

The surgery had referred Frazer to the Primary Care Mental Health Support Service (PCMHSS) under the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in the weeks before his death.

Mr Wilkie’s younger sister, Jennifer Wilkie, said her brother was ‘directed to online resources rather than direct support’

But the inquest heard how patients take a lead on their own care through that pathway and Frazer opted to speak to a mental health nurse over the phone rather than in person.

The inquest heard from nurse Helen Cummings-O’Brien who took on Frazer’s case the day before he died.

She said when she phoned him on January 19 she found him to be ‘chirpy’.

‘His first words to me were that he was feeling pretty good and he spoke about what he had achieved,’ she told assistant coroner for Gwent James Gormley.

‘He displayed full insight. He admitted to [suicidal] thoughts and I had no reason to disbelieve that he wouldn’t act.

‘We moved on a lot because of how he told me he was doing,’ she added.

Mr Gormley formally recorded Frazer’s death as suicide, saying: ‘He left a series of handwritten notes expressing his intention to take his own life.’

Paying tribute to her brother Jennifer said: ‘Frazer was a very loving, kind, funny, and gentle man with a sensitive soul.

A major study found that online and telephone GP appointments can miss serious illnesses and put patients at risk of deadly errors

‘He was the silly one who always brought mischief, laughter, and love to our family.

‘He was devoted to his young daughter who is very like him in looks and personality and it’s absolutely heartbreaking thinking we will never see him or hear his voice again.

‘Frazer’s passing has impacted mine and my family’s lives massively. We are all absolutely heartbroken and are still struggling to cope with and accept what has happened.’

Recalling her brother’s life Jennifer remembered: ‘The years following Frazer leaving school were very turbulent for Frazer as he struggled to determine his career path and to settle down.

‘Eventually Frazer decided he wanted a fresh start and moved to Wales where our older sister lives.

‘It was in Wales where we understand Frazer’s mental health struggles began. Almost immediately we could see Frazer changing physically and emotionally. He became withdrawn from family, began partying a lot, losing a significant amount of weight and did not communicate as often as he usually would. The Frazer we all knew and loved dearly was disappearing before our eyes.

‘Frazer was determined to make his move down south work and wanted to settle down so he held down a job and soon after met the mother of his daughter. He was a loving and doting father and his daughter idolised him. However, over time, Frazer’s family situation became very difficult and he often shared with the family the negative impact this was having on his mental health.

‘Despite all the help Frazer sought out Frazer continued to struggle and found much of the advice from professionals to be ineffective. With his family situation worsening and his mental health getting harder to deal with I think Frazer felt like he had run out of options.

‘Before all of this Frazer had not expressed any suicidal thoughts to us. Although we as a family knew he was struggling the depth of his struggle had been masked well – particularly in his last days where we thought he was sounding a little more positive.

‘I feel he had made his plan to take his life and felt content that he made a plan and knew his pain would soon end. He convinced people his mood was improving as he did not want to be talked out of his plan.’

Jennifer explained how she decided to speak openly about what happened to Frazer after learning of ‘stigma attached to suicide’.

‘I came by Papyrus when as a family we were researching what charity to raise money for at Frazer’s funeral,’ she said.

‘We requested no flowers at Frazer’s funeral and instead for a donation to be made to Papyrus in Frazer’s name.

‘I find the stigma attached to suicide most shocking. My mum has been told by different people that what Frazer did was selfish.

‘She has been asked whether she was angry at him for his choice and whether she feels guilty for not stopping him. Comments like this make it clear to me that young suicide, particularly young male suicide, needs much more awareness.

‘Frazer was one of the most selfless people I know. If I had known of Papyrus I feel I could have sought advice from them and pointed Frazer in their direction where he may have accessed help and support faster.

‘I feel it is important to raise awareness of Papyrus as before my brother’s death I had not heard of it and the amazing work it does. Suicide was not something I had ever dealt with before.

‘It had never impacted me or anyone in my family so I hadn’t felt the need to think about it.

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‘Devoted’ father, 31, took his own life after only seeing GPs and mental health workers over the phone rather than face-to-face despite years of mental health struggles

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