Sophie Parkinson: 'Best care possible' was wanted for suicide schoolgirl
A family therapist who treated a 13-year-old schoolgirl who took her own life has told a fatal accident inquiry he had wanted her to have the "best care" possible.
Sophie Parkinson died at her family home in Liff, outside Dundee, in 2014. Her mother Ruth Moss believes health professionals within NHS Tayside could have done more to prevent her death. Therapist Stephen Thomson told the FAI that family sessions had proved difficult. High School of Dundee pupil Sophie died in March 2014. She had been referred to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) by a self harm team. Sophie was classed as a tier three patient, with tier four being those assessed as posing the most significant mental health concerns. NHS Tayside family therapist Mr Thomson said: "Sophie was a young person who came to the service and we wanted her to have the best care she possibly could." Difficult conflict Mr Thomson said no formal risk assessment was able to be carried out. He told the second day of the inquiry: "I deal with conflict all the time but in this situation it was particularly difficult." He said: "Things were all coming to a head in terms of helping this girl." Family therapy was ended, in favour of individual therapy. Sophie's mother had told the first day of the inquiry she believed she would still be alive if health professionals had done more to help. Mrs Moss, now living in Edinburgh, said Sophie - who she described as "kind, sensitive, clever and beautiful" - had looked up ways to end her life online. She described CAMHS as "ambivalent". 'Tricky balance' Asked about that claim, and Mrs Moss saying the situation was not taken seriously enough, Mr Thomson told Richard Pugh, for NHS Tayside, that he disagreed. He said he felt there had been a "good package of care". He said handling such cases could often be a "challenge" and a "tricky balance". The inquiry, being held before Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC, continues. It is being held remotely due to coronavirus restrictions. If you or someone you know needs support for issues about emotional distress, these organisations may be able to help.