A TEACHER died after she was left “traumatised” by being stripped and left naked in a police cell, an inquest heard.
Jorja Watt, 27, had been looking forward to starting a new job abroad when she was discovered dead at her friend’s home.
Jorja Watt was found dead at her friend’s home[/caption]
The teacher had been ‘traumatised’ by an incident with the police[/caption]
The tragedy came just weeks after she had been arrested on a night out on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
Jorja, who had been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, was “stripped and left naked in a cell”, an inquest heard.
Her mum Marie told the court she had been left “traumatised” and feared it would spell the end of her dream teaching career.
As a result, Jorja’s mental health spiralled and she began to take prescription medication in an attempt to “self-medicate”, Lancs Live reports.
Preston Coroner’s Court heard she was found unresponsive at her friend Charlie’s home on September 1 last year.
Charlie’s mum Voirrey Wilde said: “At around 1 o’clock I woke up to Charlie shouting ‘Jorja’ repeatedly.
“I knew something was wrong. I found her slumped on the sofa. Her lips were blue and she was unresponsive.”
A post mortem showed Jorja had several prescription medications in her system at the time of her death – including heroin substitute methadone.
Her cause of death was listed as multi-medication toxicity with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder listed as a contributory factor.
Recording a verdict of misadventure, Area Coroner Kate Bisset said: “I think it is right to record this is not someone who is taking drugs for a high and chasing a thrill.
“Her mental health was a real battle for her and taking medication was an attempt to win that battle.”
Marie described her daughter as “quietly spoken, intelligent and kind”.
She said that although Jorja was a “free spirit”, she had a nice flat and a job at a local college.
The sentiment was echoed by the coroner, who said: “Jorja was very much a free spirit.
“She obviously had a core of real steel in her to complete a degree over six years and maintain a job while going through these struggles and that shows a real strength of character.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
Jorja’s mental health had spiralled after her arrest[/caption]
She was stripped naked and left in a cell, an inquest heard[/caption]
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