A coroner found that the student officer who committed suicide was ‘distressed” about returning to work, and had waited months for a occupational health appointment.
Anugrah, 21, of Whitefield was found dead on the 4th March 2023.
The sister of the deceased told Rochdale Coroners’ Court inquest that her brother was “worried” about returning back to work. At the time, he was in training with West Yorkshire Police.
Inquest heard Mr Abraham struggled under the stress of working as a trainee police officer with the force, while also completing a degree apprenticeship at Leeds Trinity University.
Senior coroner Joanne Kearsley concluded the inquest on Mr Abraham’s death on 29 October.
Hearing was informed that Mr Abraham waited months to get an appointment with WYP’s occupational health unit before his death. He had previously spoken of depression and thoughts of suicide.
After a meeting in January 2023 with a sergeant, Mr Abraham was referred urgently to the occupational health unit.
The appointment for April was made despite the fact that it should have taken five days to be seen by a doctor or occupational health nurse.
The Coroner, Ms Kearsley, ruled Mr Abraham “should have received an urgent face-toface appointment” and said that the triaging his case was flawed.
She said, however, that Mr Abraham had not spoken to any NHS services regarding his mental health.
Mr Abraham received a two-week leave of absence from his job in February to visit Amsterdam with friends. Inquest heard that Mr Abraham was placed on a developmental plan before he left.
Inquest heard that Mr Abraham spoke to friends during the trip to Amsterdam about the pressures at work.
Two days before he had to return to work, Abraham visited his GP for a back issue. He did not mention his mental health during the appointment with his father.
Mr Abraham left his family the next morning after having breakfast and applying for jobs.
His family called the police to report him missing after he didn’t return home that evening. He was located the next morning.
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Ms Kearsley determined that Mr Abraham’s “prospect of returning to the workplace was likely to be a source for distress”.
She said he had not been at work for two full weeks. “I have no doubt he didn’t want to go back, but he inexplicably hadn’t discussed anything with his GP on the 2nd March.” On 3 March, he had not indicated to his family anything that was of concern.
