|
Mental health
worker stabbed to death at home of patient
May
21, 2006
by staff reporter
A
22-year-old mental health worker and psychology graduate has been
stabbed to death at the home of a patient.
The body of Ashleigh Ewing, who worked for a mental health charity
in Newcastle, was discovered by police on Friday, after a man walked
into a police station claiming that there was a dead woman at his
home.
Ms Ewing was found, covered in stab wounds, in the kitchen of a
local man who was being questioned by police, the Observer newspaper
reported today.
Ms Ewing had been working for the Mental Health Matters charity
in Newcastle since December after gaining a degree in psychology,
the paper reported.
Part of her job was to visit people diagnosed with a mental illness
and help them develop social skills and integrate into the community.
The Observer reported that her death is likely to renew calls for
the introduction of increased protection of mental health workers
who visit patients in their homes.
A full inquiry is likely to be carried out by the local NHS mental
health trust.
Ms Ewing, who lived in Hebburn, South Tyneside, had suffered multiple
stab wounds and was found in the kitchen of the property on Friday
morning in the Heaton area of Newcastle.
Detective Superintendent Steve Wade, who is leading the investigation,
was quoted as saying: "A man walked into Clifford Street police
station claiming that a woman was dead at his home address."
Mental Health Matters was formed in 1984 to provide support for
people with mental illness.
A spokesman for the charity told the Observer: “The effect
on all the people Ashleigh worked with has been devastating.”
“I know Ashleigh's family were extremely proud of her and
her choice to use her psychology degree to help others. She was
extremely well liked by everyone and all of our thoughts right now
are with her family.”
Add your
comments
What
do you think? Email your comments on the above
article to the editor using the form below. Selected comments will
be displayed.
© 2001-7 Psychminded Limited. All
rights reserved
Email
a colleague
about this article
|
|
