Holly Glasson died when she jumped from a multi-storey car park in Norwich on June 3 last year. 

She struggled with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and body dysmorphia after she stopped taking long-term skin medication to conceive a baby with her fiancé.

The pensions advisor had no previous history of mental health problems, but she underwent a ‘significant change’ after she stopped taking the drug.

A LOVING TRIBUTE 

At a recent inquest into her death, Miss Glasson’s family shared a loving tribute which included details of her early life. 

Norfolk Coroner's Court (Image: Newsquest)

Born in 1993 in Hillingdon Hospital in West London, she grew up in a ‘secure family’ and became an older sister to her brother, Elliott, when she turned five. 

Her family said: “She attended the local infant and junior school where she was a very confident and happy pupil, as well as a consistent high achiever. 

“Holly had many friends and always participated fully in school life, enjoying being part of school plays and sports – particularly athletics, for which she was part of the school team. 

“Out of school, Holly enjoyed drama, and reading club.  

“She had many close friends and enjoyed regular get-togethers and sleepovers. She also attended ballet, swimming, and karate classes.” 

As she entered high school, she remained an ‘outgoing and popular student’ who balanced a full social life with her studies. 

They added: “Her fastidious work ethic never compromised her social endeavours. 

“Holly was always ambitious in her school life and achieved head of school council, head prefect, and culminated in becoming head girl in her last year.” 

She received 11 GCSEs, six of which were A*, and three A-Levels in geography, English, and politics graded A and above. She also completed her Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

UNIVERSITY AND BEYOND 

In 2012, she attended the University of East Anglia to study International Development. 

The University of East Anglia (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2010)

The family’s statement continued: “She was very sociable in university, exemplified by her participation in multi university societies. 

"Holly was her greatest critic and put pressure on herself to achieve. 

“Holly set a goal of first-class honours and nothing less would do. She achieved this in 2015.  

“She enjoyed travel, spending one summer interrailing across Europe.  

“She maintained a job throughout university and completed an internship at Great Yarmouth Council in her second year.” 

In her second year of university, she met her partner, Alex Todd, who she would get engaged to. 

After university, she took a gap year and spent a month travelling across southern America with Alex, and then taught voluntarily for five months in Chile.  

Her voluntary work continued in different forms throughout the rest of her life.  Holly Glasson (Image: Dignity)

She got her first job in Reading where she worked for the National Citizen Service conducting summer programmes for young people.  

Following the pandemic, the couple moved to Norwich to be closer to their families. 

They added: “Holly was extremely happy when she moved to Norwich as she was both close to family and created a beautiful home with her partner. 

“She quickly established a very active social life in Norwich. 

“Throughout Holly’s entire life, family was very important to her, and she said she felt at her happiest when she spent time with her immediate family. They shared many experiences together. 

“Holly had always wished to become a mother.” 

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? 

“As Holly’s family, we feel an enormous sense of loss. 

“We do not understand what went so horribly wrong over the last six months of Holly’s life, however, we do feel a big part of what went wrong was the lack of communication between the various health professionals that Holly had seen. 

Holly Glasson (Image: Dignity)

“We feel lost and confused as to how Holly – such a sunny-natured, fun-loving, caring, and compassionate person with a huge enthusiasm for life and no previous mental health history – felt there was no alternative but to take her life. 

“Our life together with Holly, which was perfect in so many ways, has been suddenly snatched away.” 

• Do you need support? The NHS First Response service can be reached by dialling 111 and selecting option 2. Alternatively, contact Samaritans on 116 123. Both services can be reached 24/7.    
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