A woman who was known to mental health services and struggled with hearing voices died by alcohol misuse, a coroner has ruled.

Lucy Denton, 42, was found by her flatmates at Church Meadows in Colne on Monday, June 5.

Blackburn Town Hall heard how Lucy had been struggling with her mental health since 2010, and was diagnosed with schizophrenia since her early 20s. 

Lucy's flatmates checked on her after they had not heard from her for a few days, and found her dead in her bed.

The court heard Lucy struggled with alcohol due to the voices in her head from schizophrenia, and began to drink up to a litre or a bottle of vodka a day to self medicate her symptoms.

She was known to multiple mental health services, including her GP, Inspire, and the Lancashire Home Treatment Team.

Lucy's mother, Susan, was present on the day of the hearing and told the court Lucy had been dealing with the drinking well until her medication was changed.

She said: "She drank to try and drown out the voices and the change of medication meant her mental health deteriorated, and that is what killed her as far as I am concerned."

Lucy was prescribed with Seroquel by her GP, a medication to treat her schizophrenia, but was declined future use after a time at Airdale Hospital as it was ruled the side effects on her heart were too risky.

When she was referred to the Inspire team by the hospital in June 2022, they reported that she had good and bad days as she told the team she had a good support network through her craft and foraging groups that kept her happy.

However she rang mental health services one night as she believed a letter through her door was either from the CIA in America looking for her, or the NHS wishing to section her.

Although she engaged well with mental health services, the court heard she would not attend regularly due to her commitments with the craft and foraging groups.

This medical cause was recorded by Coroner Kate Bisset as she confirmed a narrative conclusion of sudden unexpected death due to misuse of alcohol.

Ms Bisset said: "I think it is really clear how hard Lucy tried to get better and I do not think I have experienced anyone who tried and wanted to get better as much as she did.

"It is clear to me she was loved and I wish you all the very best going forward."