Fears raised of a potential ‘suicide cluster’ inside British Army unit
The family of a soldier who took his own life has instructed lawyers to investigate whether more could have been done to help him amid fears of a ‘suicide cluster’ within his battalion.
Nicki Hart, 33, who had a history of mental health problems, died at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire in February 2022.
A formal inquest has yet to take place but an Army Service Inquiry Report has now found there were ‘several missed opportunities that significantly hampered the efforts’ to help him.
It also raised concerns over a possible ‘suicide cluster’ after four sudden deaths in the 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland between 2018 and 2022.
The family of the father-of-three has now asked medical negligence lawyers Irwin Mitchell to take up the case.
Mr Hart’s widow, Sara, 38, said: ‘Losing Nicki is something we have to live with every day. No words could describe the pain and grief we continue to feel more than two years on.
Nicki Hart, 33, (pictured) who had a history of mental health problems, in February 2022
His family has instructed lawyers to investigate whether more could have been done to help him
He passed away at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire (pictured)
‘To watch my children have to grow up without their dad is devastating, and to know we’re not the only family going through this is incredibly tough. We always felt more could have been done to help Nicki, and the report validates those concerns. Our hope now is to stop it happening to someone else.’
Lawyer Ayse Ince, who is representing the family, added: ‘While it’s too late for Nicki, it’s vital changes are made to help prevent other families suffering.’
The report stated that Mr Hart had previously attempted suicide in 2012 and 2014 after drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
His mental health then deteriorated again shortly after close friend Ryan MacKenzie took his own life at the garrison in 2021. Mr Hart was assessed a month later but ‘his presentation was deemed not related to mental health’. It was only after he told officers in 2022 of three recent suicide bids that he was referred for mental health support.
But he was found dead in his barracks on February 5, 2022. The report highlighted a ‘significant shortfall of psychiatrists leading to a longer waiting list for appointments.’ Ms Ince said concerns had also been raised about the culture at Catterick, where the 4th Battalion are based, and how it was ‘difficult to engage with medics’.
One of the 41 recommendations in the report states the ‘possible requirement to investigate all recent deaths within the unit from the period 2018-2022 in order to identify whether the unit had experienced a suicide cluster’.
An Army spokesman said: ‘We are urgently reviewing and actioning the report recommendations.’
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