When mistakes by the DWP and Capita led to my sister’s death, my family brought a legal claim to prevent similar tragedies
In the grounds of a mental health hospital my sister, Philippa Day, looked at me with tear-filled eyes and told me that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)’s actions would kill her, and that when they did she wanted me to advocate for her so that it would never happen again. I looked at her gravely and made a solemn promise that if anyone took her from me I would do exactly that.
Philippa had emotionally unstable personality disorder, agoraphobia, anxiety, depression and type 1 diabetes. In November 2018 Philippa was advised by her community psychiatric nurse (CPN) that she may have been entitled to more benefits than she was receiving and was asked to consider applying for personal independence payments (Pip).
Imogen Day is a mental health campaigner
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org
