Abortion torment of young mum

TRAGIC . . . young mother Jade Rees

A YOUNG single mother hanged herself three weeks after an abortion, an inquest heard.

Jade Rees (21) from Oldham, had a termination when a five-month relationship with the unborn baby’s father broke down. But an inquest heard that the decision left her “upset and distressed”.

Three weeks later Jade, who already had a son, played the Ed Sheeran song “Small Bump”, written about a miscarriage, through her phone before she took her own life. She left a handwritten note to explain her struggles since the procedure.

An inquest at Heywood coroner’s court heard Jade had battled eating disorders and depression since she was 14. She had been taken off anti-depressant medication after falling pregnant with her son in 2013. Jade split from the boy’s father when she was four months pregnant. She met her next boyfriend in early 2015 but they split after she became pregnant with his child. Jade chose to terminate in October.

The hearing was told Jade’s mental state worsened and she took two overdoses.

Dr Easodhavidhya Elango, a trainee psychiatric specialist, told the inquest: “My first impression of Jade was that she was upset and angry - emotions she directed at me.

She told me she just wanted to go home to her son, who she clearly loved dearly. She told me about the abortion she had three weeks earlier, and how the split from her partner had been very distressing.

“Though she was upset, she did not have any thoughts of suicide or self-harm. I felt she was no risk to herself or others but due to the two overdoses, so close together, I was concerned by her impulsiveness.

“She told me she regretted taking the overdose and promised to keep herself safe. She wasn’t on anti-depressants at the time of our meeting that I was aware of, and I didn’t prescribe any.”

On the evening prior to her death, on November 3, Jade told her parents she was going to a bonfire. When she returned home around midnight, she seemed “very upset” and discussed her ex-partner, though her parents weren’t concerned about her mental state.

Jade’s body was discovered by her mother the following morning.

Recording a verdict of suicide, assistant coroner Matthew Cox said: “Due to the circumstances and the contents of her note, I am satisfied Jade did intend the consequence of her actions.”