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The heartbroken mum of a 14-year-old who took her own life says her daughter was a “truly remarkable young girl”.
Talented artist Leah Bishop, from Lydd-on-Sea, was found dead in her bedroom after overdosing on prescription medication taken from family members.
A two-day inquest heard it may have been a cry for help, as a note on her iPhone spoke about waking up in hospital.
In a devastating final message to her best friend, Leah wrote: “I’ve done something bad. I’m scared.”
The inquest heard she had battled mental health issues and had felt “anxious, isolated and alone” at the Marsh Academy before being withdrawn to be home-schooled.
While noting doubts expressed by police about whether Leah intended to take her own life, a coroner ruled her death a suicide.
Speaking after the inquest, her mum, Tracy Guile, told KentOnline her daughter had been “full of creativity, love, and kindness”.
“From a young age, Leah showed an incredible talent for art. Her drawings amazed everyone who saw them, each one reflecting her imagination and unique personality,” she said.
Ms Guile said Leah “excelled at anything she set her mind to”, with a passion for anime, music and skateboarding.
“She had a wonderful sense of humour and the most vibrant personality, brightening every room she entered,” she added.
“Her kindness and generosity touched everyone who knew her.
“Leah was the heart of her friendship group, always making her friends laugh and smile. She brought joy and love to everyone around her.
“Her memory lives on in the art she created, the laughter she shared, and the love she left behind.”
At the inquest into her death at Oakwood House, Maidstone, coroner Ian Brownhill examined evidence which explored Leah’s mindset and struggle with self-image.
DS Rachel King, from Kent Police’s child protection team, told the court Leah had made multiple references to her unhappiness in notes written on her iPhone.
“The way it had been written, it was like a diary,” said DS King.
“In one part, she refers to herself as a bit of a failure.
“What she hoped to achieve wasn’t overly clear; she spoke about waking up in hospital.
“I wasn’t ever sure she intended to die, or if she hoped she’d be able to get some help.”
It was heard that before Leah’s death on November 4 last year, she had ingested medication “surreptitiously” taken from family members at the house in Lade Fort Crescent.
The home-schooled youngster had recently left the Marsh Academy in New Romney, with her attendance dwindling as time went on.
She was part of a young carers club, but “the school environment made her nervous”, and changes in classmates for Year 9 left her distressed.
Her mum told the inquest: “I tried all I could to get her to go but I couldn’t. She absolutely hated it.
“She felt isolated, anxious, alone.
“She hated secondary school; she was bullied.”
It was also revealed that Leah was discharged from North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) services in February 2024, though Kent County Council (KCC) was not aware of the full extent of her mental health issues before her death.
The coroner said while the authority might have been able to offer more assistance had they known, it was not considered likely to have “more than minimally caused or contributed to her death”.
Concluding the inquest, the coroner said: “Nothing I say in respect of the following will take anything away from the fact that Leah was clearly a bright young woman who, despite her challenges with school, was able to show promise.
“I hope that you will remember the good things about Leah, her creativity, her brightness. I hope that this inquest won’t be the focus of your memory, but rather the positives of her life.
“I find that Leah was surreptitiously taking prescribed medication from her mother with the intention of ingesting it.
“With respect to Leah’s intention in consuming the medication, I have paused significantly when considering Leah’s plan.
“I have looked carefully at the level of preparation that Leah had undertaken, what she said in her diary and in her notes.
“And in my mind, when Leah consumed the medication, it was with the intention of bringing her life to an end.”
Speaking after the inquest, Shaun Simmons, principal of Marsh Academy, told KentOnline the “entire community” at the school remains deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Leah.
“Our thoughts and sympathies continue to be with her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” he said.
“The death of a student is a tragedy that affects our whole school community, and Leah is missed by staff and students alike.
“We remember Leah as a student who had a close circle of friends and enjoyed her time in school with them. She particularly enjoyed art as a subject and is remembered fondly by staff.”
Mental health problems can affect any of us at any time in our lives.
When life gets tough, talking can help.
Call the Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123, or chat in confidence to a trained Release the Pressure adviser, anytime, just text the word SHOUT to 85258 or call 0800 107 0160.
For details about other mental health support in Kent and Medway, including Amparo, who provide support to anyone bereaved by suicide, please visit kent.gov.uk/mentalhealth
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