The parents of teenager found hanged at her home have told an inquest she did not receive the mental health care she needed, which contributed to her death.
Becky Romero struggled with a number of mental health illnesses and was picked on at school since the age of four, a hearing was told.
She was found dead at her home in Bournemouth by her father in July.
Becky’s mother Nicky Romero, 46, today asked an inquest why her daughter was released early from a psychiatric unit in the days leading up to her death.
Becky Romero was found dead at her home in Bournemouth by her father in July
The schoolgirl told psychologists she had no friends in her home city of Bristol and became ‘heavily invested’ in relationships with people on the internet.
She tried to commit suicide three times in the months before her death and regularly self-harmed, the inquest was told
Becky had been submitted to Pebble Lodge specialist psychiatric unit in Bournemouth, Dorset, but was discharged on July 14.
She had repeatedly self-harmed on the morning of a discharge meeting on July 13 and carved ‘my fault’ into her skin.
Her body was found at home by father Tony Romero, 47, on Wednesday, July 19.
Becky’s mother questioned why she was released from Pebble Lodge and said her daughter didn’t receive various ‘promised’ treatments.
This included cognitive therapy, anxiety management and acceptance and commitment therapy.
Mrs Romero said: ‘As far as I’m aware she received none of these treatments.
‘We have been told a child with vulnerabilities such as these would need at least twelve months in the facility.’
Becky tried to overdose twice in the months before her death after breaking up with her American girlfriend who she met on the internet.
The pair would speak constantly with Becky staying awake through the night to keep their body clocks aligned. They were speaking an hour before Becky took her own life.
Mum Nicky told the inquest: ‘She was bullied in both junior and secondary school.’
Dad Tony told the hearing: ‘Becky’s mental health problems started from being bullied at school from the age of four.’
Clinical psychologist Dr Ellie Cullum, who was in contact with Becky once a week, described the teenager as ‘vulnerable’ and said online relationships ‘seemed to form the focus of her thoughts and daily routines’.
She said: ‘The online world seemed more real to her. She said she had no friends in Bristol and experienced friends online as her real friends.’
The inquest resumes for its second and final day tomorrow.
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