found hanged after she became tormented by her severe skin condition.
Hollie McEwen, a dedicated professional, first suffered psoriasis as a
12-month-old but it eased with treatment. However, it later reappeared
due to stress and the 28-year-old became so depressed she took her own
life at home.
Her father Andrew told an inquest: 'Her condition played a large part
in what she decided to do.
'She was a beautiful, vibrant young woman who felt she couldn't deal
with the condition. She felt this was the only way out.'
The Doncaster hearing was told she had suffered from bulimia as a
teenager. Her family believed the eating disorder stemmed from her
ongoing issues with her skin condition.
Her mother Wendy said: 'Her skin condition played a large part in her
problems as a teenager and when older I feel this was at the root of
all the problems.'
Hollie's body was found just two days after she had sought medical
help for her depression.
She had spent a long time writing several letters to loved ones which
were found in a bin.
Her father, who saw her the evening before the tragedy said: 'She was
a happy, young woman who enjoyed her work and social life but she kept
everything very close to herself. We had a good laugh on that last
night and there was no indication she was unhappy.'
Mrs McEwen said her daughter, who lived in Scawsby, Doncaster, had
treatment for psoriasis over the last few years involving hospital
stays and steroids after suffering anxiety attacks.
Hollie had enjoyed a family holiday in Turkey but was 'down' after
being given an anti-depression drug by her GP which failed to lighten
her mood.
'She was an intelligent, determined and organised young woman,' she
said. 'I told her to keep going with the tablets and give it time.'
When told about her daughter's death she said: 'I was in absolute
shock. Her death has left a large hole in our family. I still can't
understand why this has happened.'
Hollie's brother Andrew told the inquest: 'She was a happy young woman
who enjoyed her work and social life. She kept everything very close
to herself.'
He said there was no indication that she was unhappy the evening
before she died. He added: 'As a teenager she was always conscious of
her skin condition and it worried her greatly.'
Hollie's neighbour Elaine Lunn found a note from her on the morning of
Friday, May 23 asking her to call the emergency services so Hollie's
family would not find her body.
She said: 'I believe she had planned it. There was nothing to suggest
prior that she was going to do anything like this. I feel totally
distraught.'
She added: 'She was a very attractive young woman. She was energetic,
thoughtful and caring and studied to further her career. She was very
bright and intelligent.'
Nurse and friend Angelina Deighton, who trained with Hollie at
Sheffield Hallam University, said she knew her psoriasis had worried
Hollie and she said she was having treatment and counselling.
'She was always the life and soul of our friendship group,' she said.
'She was always bubbly. She had a boyfriend for a few months in 2013
but it fizzled out and she wasn't concerned about it.
'Lately she described being tired, down and just not coping. She had
been to her GP for anti-depressants but she didn't think counselling
would help her and she tried to help herself.
'I tried time and time again to get her to seek help. She had many
friends who thought she would never do anything like this.'
Behavioural psychotherapist Jessica Dunn, who had a session with
Hollie just two days before she died, said Hollie had started to feel
anxious and overwhelmed at having to plan a friend's hen party.
'She was well presented with immaculate hair and make-up,' said Miss
Dunn. She had 'dark thoughts' but had no intention of carrying them
out. 'She told me "I wouldn't put my family through that".'
Hollie had been avoiding her friends and not socialising because her
mood was so low. After breaking down in tears in the witness stand
Miss Dunn said: 'I had no concern for her safety.'
Source: UK Daily Mail
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