Singer-songwriter who was upset when her emotional assist canine fell unwell took her personal life and so they had been discovered useless in mattress collectively, inquest hears

A troubled singer-songwriter was found dead in bed with her emotional support dog after warning friends she couldn’t live without him, an inquest has heard.

Lyna Galliara, whose work was championed by the BBC, had become inseparable from her Japanese Chin breed, Abu, her family said.

But tragedy stuck when the animal fell ill and Ms Galliara was warned he would need tracheal surgery due to a progressive cough.

The 34-year-old’s sister, Tanya, said she had first become aware of her sibling’s faltering mental health in 2014 after receiving a series of emails from her about how hard she was finding life.

This was followed by two or three attempts at taking her own life including an overdose that year.

Ms Galliara adopted Abu from the Dogs Trust in 2015, having made signs of recovery after being sectioned.

But unfortunately Abu’s declining health meant he required surgery – and after suffering complications Ms Galliara was ‘pushed over the edge’ and found unresponsive at her flat in Hackney, London on June 30 this year.

In a tragic blog less than two weeks before her death, the musician had written: ‘I must fight to overcome my struggles like Abu has. Life remains scary.

‘This surgery experience has been terrifying and yet somehow Abu and I appear to have come through it.

‘I hope I’ll be able to use this experience to foster the courage I need to overcome more of the fears that have been holding me back in my life for so long now.’

Tanya said after the hearing: ‘Unfortunately there is no information to confirm what happened, but from the last communication we had from Lyna, the dog was in good health.

‘My suspicion is that due to her own body dysmorphia, she could not cope with the scarring he had from his recent surgery, and that she may have done something to him despite the fact that she stated that he seemed to be recovering from the surgery.’

Tanya gave further evidence, at the hearing at St Pancras Coroners’ Court, saying Ms Galliara was ‘quite creative, quite artistic’ but had struggled. 

Notes from Ms Galliara’s GP revealed that in 2014 she had broken her nose and began suffering from body dysmorphia, obsessing over perceived physical flaws.

In 2022, Ms Galliara’s father died and a year later her mother became ill – but her family struggled to make contact with her.

The trio agreed to have monthly meetings from then on and would convene at a nearby hotel on the last Sunday in March, April and May.

On June 29 this year, Tanya and her mother went to see Ms Galliara for their planned monthly meeting, but she didn’t appear and on going to her flat, there was no response.

They subsequently asked police to do a welfare check and the next day officers broke in – finding Ms Galliara lying dead in bed alongside Abu, who was also dead.

Police Sergeant Oscar Ashford, who attended, told the hearing: ‘Tanya reported that Lyna had a pet dog she was very attached to who had recently become unwell and required surgery.

‘I was met by PC Crate who informed me that they had forced entry into the property and that upon entering PC Crate had found Ms Galliara sadly deceased in her bedroom on her bed next to her deceased pet dog.

‘Next to her were a number of empty packets of medication and a number of pills at her feet.

‘PC Crate informed me that she had found on the floor next to the bed, a Notice of Will and Notice of Do Not Resuscitate.

‘PC Crate said that there was a package outside the flat which the neighbour stated had not been collected in over a week, she also told them that she recalled Lyna telling her that if her dog passed away, she would end her own life.’

Post mortem examinations and toxicology reports revealed Ms Galliara had died of acute respiratory failure caused by oxycodeine toxicity.

The inquest heard the musician was referred variously to a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist – who felt talking therapies were not suitable – and on two occasions to her local Single Point of Access team, which identifies and supports onward treatment, but on both occasions they refused Ms Galliara’s referral.

Instead, her GP was advised to direct her again to talking therapy services, but by this point Ms Galliara was not attending the surgery, posting her doctor dozens of letters instead.

She was given a referral to a community connector, a trusted local person who links vulnerable individuals to essential services and support.

However Tanya said her sister had a history of not engaging with mental health services, which was not taken fully into account.

Harry Lambert, assistant coroner for Inner London North, said he was concerned Ms Galliara had essentially been left with no treatment at all, adding: ‘Lyna was not seeing her GP because of social anxiety, but was writing letters and dropping them off.

‘My concern is she’s fallen through the cracks.’

Recording a conclusion of suicide, he added: ‘Lyna Galliara had a long history of mental health problems including a past suicide attempt.

‘In late 2024 and early 2025 she was referred variously to a CBT therapist (who felt talking therapies were not suitable) and on two occasions to the Single Point of Access team (who declined her referral on each occasion).

‘A social prescriber was suggested, but as late as April 29 the GP reports that “the social prescribing team would ask the care navigator to review the support they could offer”.

‘Lyna was being passed from pillar to post.’

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support