FAMILY OF MATILDA DAVIS WELCOME PRIME MINISTER’S AGREEMENT WITH SOCIAL CARE SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING PROPOSAL

Matilda Davis was a mother of two, who provide full-time care to her child with severe disabilities, whilst experiencing immense strain linked to relationship conflict. She sadly took her life in October 2025, just fifteen minutes after a home visit from social services. The visit was arranged as an urgent safeguarding measure in response to a concerning report that Matilda was at risk of suicide. Despite this, at no point during the visit did professionals directly ask her whether she was experiencing suicidal ideation, or making plans to end her life, as would be the recommended safeguarding practice.

In Matilda’s March 2026 inquest before Warwickshire Coroners Court, social care witnesses acknowledged they did not know the importance of asking those direct questions, as they had not been trained in suicide prevention. The Coroner agreed to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report, and the local authority has committed to delivering mandatory suicide prevention training to its frontline staff.

Matilda’s family is now fighting to have this essential training extended to local authorities across England. This was raised on their behalf by Matilda’s MP in Prime Minister’s Questions last week. Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed with the proposal and has offered a meeting with the family to discuss this further, commenting that Matilda was in “a devastating situation”

The family say: “We’re incredibly grateful to have Tilly’s story heard in Parliament and to receive such a positive response from the Prime Minister. We are really hopeful that the discussions in the future will lead to meaningful change”.

Matilda’s family were represented in the inquest by Birnberg Peirce solicitor Constance Collard, and counsel Emma-Louise Fenelon.

Matilda’s case has been reported by the Guardian and the BBC.

30 October 2026