Bereaved families continue to wait for Essex mental health inquiry

Terms of reference have yet to be approved by ministers, leaving relatives frustrated

Bereaved relatives have accused ministers of dragging their feet over an inquiry into the death of almost 2,000 patients across NHS mental health trusts in Essex.

The inquiry has still not started more than eight months after the announcement that it would be relaunched with beefed-up powers.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 988 or chat for support. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org