Magistrate Mark Douglass announced on Tuesday that inquest results found Alana Goldsmith committed suicide in 2011 after suffering from anorexia.
The Goldsmith family requested an inquest into the “cause and manner” of 23-year-old Alana’s death after her shocking suicide at Summer Hill train station on July 22, 2011.
After the eight day hearing Magistrate Douglass revealed Alana, of Cammeray on the North Shore, took her own life “while suffering anorexia nervosa”.
Her younger sister Simone Goldsworth spoke outside Glebe Coroners Court on Tuesday to reiterate how important care for sufferers of anorexia nervosa is and how the crippling disorder took over her sister’s life.
She said she hopes the inquests can, “bring about meaningful discussions amongst our health policymakers and lead to decisions that result in more resources and better care for the epidemic [of eating disorders] facing Australia.”
Christine Morgan from the Butterfly Foundation said, “It’s crucial that we realise that this is an illness that kills.” Outside court she said, “It has the highest fatality rate of mental illness and we cannot ignore that.”
The Newsroom spoke to an ex-anorexia sufferer who said that despite being referred to numerous councillors and being hospitalised twice, in the end it took a personal amount of self-control and determination to fight back against her eating disorder.
“Eventually I just kind of told myself I had to [stop]. My mum didn’t trust me anymore, like I couldn’t go anywhere with my friends because they would constantly be watching what I ate and I wasn’t allowed to go to the bathroom an hour after I’d eaten. Because of the fear that I would throw up. I just kind of realised I had to beat it otherwise it was going to take control of me.
“I’d say I’m recovered as I haven’t engaged in any eating disorder behaviour in maybe a year now, but the mental side never goes, it stays forever.”
If you are struggling with an eating disorder or thoughts of suicide and need help please call Life Line on 13 11 14 or The Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. – Lily Mayers
Top photo from Santiago Alvarez’s Flickr photostream.
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