Sprowston mum died while grieving loss of her best friend

Mum-of-one Kendall Jarrett was found unresponsive in her Sprowston flat by a friend on March 18 this year, an inquest into her death heard.

During the hearing, the court was told Ms Jarrett had a long history of mental ill health, for which she had sought support through her GP and mental health services.

But it heard that in the months leading up to her tragic death, she was rocked by the heartbreaking losses of her best friend, Harriet Belmore and her godson, Charlie Belmore-Hawkes.

Harriet Belmore, Ms Jarrett's best friend (Image: Facebook)

Simone Rogers, Ms Jarrett's friend and neighbour, told the court: "Kendall had had a very bad year. Her godson took his own life and then her best friend did the same.

"I had been checking in with her since Harriet died."

Ms Rogers told the court she had last seen her friend alive on the morning of her death and returned to check in following the school run and found her unresponsive inside.

Matilda Hunt, from Lawson Road Medical Practice, told the court that Ms Jarrett had complained of suffering insomnia in November, following her double bereavement - for which she was receiving medication.

MENTAL HEALTH DELAYS 

(Image: Archant © 2012)

The court heard that prior to her bereavement, Ms Jarrett had previously sought help for struggles with her mental health.

In a statement, her mother Suzanne Yaxley described how migraines were the "bane of her life", which became severe to the point she could not leave blackened rooms.

She said: "When she was down she would say she would get brain fog and would struggle with the most simple of tasks, such as unloading the washing machine, making a cup of tea or getting dressed.

"When she was up she was a wonderful and happy woman ."

In June 2023, she was referred by her GP to community mental health services for support with anxiety.

She attended an assessment on July 14, during which a mental health nurse described as "tearful" and she was referred for further support.

However, it was not until November that she was offered an appointment to receive this help - which she cancelled.

Further appointments were made for her in December and January, but she did not attend and on January 17 - two months before her death - she was discharged from services and referred back to her GP.

A serious incident report conducted by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust read out to the court acknowledged the trust had not made contact with her in the period following her assessment and before her first appointment in November.

It added: "A timelier response would have been preferable but the wait was in keeping with the current demand and capacity."

Samantha Goward, area coroner for Norfolk, said she had heard no evidence to suggest the delays had contributed to her death.

She gave a narrative conclusion that Ms Jarrett had died as a result of a deliberate act, but that her intentions were not clear in light of alcohol and drugs found in her system.

DOUBLE TRAGEDY 

Charlie Belmore-Hawkes (Image: Dignity Funeral Directors)

Ms Jarrett's death came just months after the deaths of two of her closest loved ones.

Charlie Belmore-Hawkes, from Taverham, was just 17 years old when his body was found in a wooded area on October 2. He was Ms Jarrett's godson.

Less than a month later, his 36-year-old mother Harriet Belmore took her own life in her home on October 31.

Years earlier, Ms Jarrett dealt with the tragic loss of another of her closest friends - murdered mother Kerri McAuley - who she raised thousands of pounds in the memory of. 

Do you need support? Samaritans can be reached on 116 123, 24/7. 

The NHS First Response Service is available at all hours on 111 option 2.