Bethany Hewitt, a 34-year-old mother of two, was found hanged in Runcorn on 22 February after waiting three years for an ADHD assessment. She disclosed suicidal ideation to her GP just 19 days before her death, yet was not referred to specialist mental health services or given a follow-up appointment despite her concerning condition. An inquest concluded that the prolonged wait for her ADHD assessment and worsening symptoms likely contributed to her mental health decline. The coroner issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report due to systemic failures in the healthcare response to her deteriorating situation.

Ms Hewitt scored 15/27 on a PHQ9 depression screening questionnaire during a GP appointment on 3 February 2026, just one point below the threshold for urgent specialist referral. She had been first referred for ADHD assessment in February 2023; when a GP requested an expedited assessment in November 2024, it was rejected due to "insufficient evidence", but this decision was not communicated to the referring GP or others involved in her care. Ms Hewitt was also started on sertraline antidepressant in November 2024 despite being warned of increased suicide risk, yet no follow-up appointment was arranged. The coroner highlighted the absence of national guidelines for ADHD referral processes, noting this creates inconsistent waiting times across the country and leaves patients uncertain about expected timelines.