Girl, 12, killed herself after medical staff failed to spot brain disorder, inquest finds

Mia Lucas, who died in Sheffield after being sectioned, had undiagnosed condition causing ‘acute psychosis’

A 12-year-old girl who took her own life after being sectioned was failed by medical staff who did not spot her underlying brain disorder, an inquest has found.

Mia Lucas was found unresponsive in her room at the Becton centre, which is part of Sheffield children’s hospital, on 29 January last year.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org