Bizarre suicide of tormented artist

Oct 18 2009 by Laura Caroe, Sunday Sun

A TORTURED film-maker killed herself using a bizarre homemade gas mask, an inquest has heard.

Louise Hamill was found dead on her bed in a Travelodge on Newcastle’s Quayside by a cleaner days after she went missing from her home.

Police searched her room and found a plastic bag and a helium canister she had used to make the gas mask, as well as several notepads and letters indicating she wanted to end her life.

An inquest at Newcastle Civic Centre heard how Louise had gone missing in the past .

The documentary maker from Billingham, Cleveland, who had been fighting depression on and off for the past 10 years, was struggling with financial debts and was due at magistrates court in relation to drink driving offences at the time of her death.

Louise worked for Families Talking, an organisation based in Middlesbrough which provides advice and support for anyone involved in divorce or separation.

Community psychiatric nurse Raj Serwan, who was involved in her treatment for many years, told the inquest that she had diagnosed herself as suffering from bi-polar disorder.

He said: “Louise was an exceptionally bright lady with high aspirations but because of some failures in her life, she couldn’t come to terms with some emotions.

She tended to become quite emotive under the influence of drink.

“In particular she digressed into thinking she had a personality disorder, which was self-diagnosed, and as a result she felt it was hopeless. She thought she couldn’t be rescued.”

Her devastated brother Kieran said the family had tried to help Louise by sorting our her finances and had offered to support her through any future court case.