Mum-of-two tragically took own life after ‘suicide kit’ was delivered to her door
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
An inquest has heard that a mum-of-two took her own life with a so-called 'suicide kit' delivered to her home.
Jane Colechin, from East London, was suffering with anxiety and mental health issues after the birth of her twin sons in 2017.
In early 2024, after she and her partner Sean Gleeson became ill with a virus, the charity worker, 44, developed insomnia and anxiety and was prescribed anti-anxiety drug clonazepam.
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Although Gleeson thought her mental health was improving, things took a turn for the worse with increasing dependence on benzodiazepines, the Mirror reports.
The charity worker, who held a doctorate in political science from the University of Birmingham, tried to contact a treatment team on 23 December, but was told that she would need to call 111.
On 30 December, she went to A&E at Newham Hospital with anxiety but was told she could not be seen due to the site’s psychiatrists only seeing people who had associated physical ailments.
Colechin told Gleeson On New Year's Eve 2024 to head out with their twin boys to a friends house in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire to they could play with their friends.
Gleeson returned to his Forest Gate home on 1 January to find Colechin's body in the basement.
Coroner Nadia Persaud suggested that had the treatment team been able to see Colechin on 23 December, it was 'possible' that her death may have been avoided.
A toxicology report found that a deadly chemical was present at 46,860 times higher than in a healthy fasted person.
Det Con Sam Drury, of the Metropolitan Police, said in a statement that the chemical was delivered via Royal Mail to her home.
Drury said the team had been investigating her death as she is thought to be one of at least five people who died after ordering the chemical online.
“I looked through her mobile phone for keywords relating to this (the substance) and found 1,360 instances of them between 1 December 2024 and 1 January 2025. She also went onto a website which provides information relating to suicide and the chemical as well as a Royal Mail tracking service for a parcel with the chemical,” Drury said.
Gleeson said: “We had a great time. I couldn’t have wished for anything more. The boys had someone who understood their needs so well.”
Colechin worked as a director for the Youth Futures Foundation, a charity which aims to help put young people into work.
"There aren't enough superlatives to describe Jane. Through her work, she was instrumental in shaping programs and policies that changed the lives of vulnerable young people across the UK," a GoFundMe set up for the family reads.
"She was endlessly empathetic, and gave her time, advice and kind words to anyone who needed them, be they friends or WhatsApp strangers.
"She seemed to be able to talk knowledgeably about anything and everything, from international politics to internationally trashy TV (big MAFS fan). She had the wickedest sense of humour, and the most infectious cackle, especially when recounting unfiltered tales of her various shenanigans and escapades.
"She was gregarious, fizzed with joy when around those she loved, and was the fiercest Mama Bear to her boys."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Topics: UK News
Anish Vij