Oughtibridge, Sheffield – A bright and gifted Cambridge graduate, Ramy Michael Baxby, 38, tragically took his own life after a long battle with mental health issues. His passing has sparked heartfelt tributes and calls for improved mental health care.
Michael was discovered unresponsive in his home on November 19, 2023, by a friend, just ten days after he had visited the Accident & Emergency Department expressing suicidal thoughts. An inquest held at the Sheffield Medico-Legal Centre revealed that he had long struggled with various mental health conditions, including autism, anxiety, depression, and dependent personality disorder. He was first diagnosed with depression during his studies at Cambridge.
During the inquest, Michael’s mother, Tanya Baxby, shared a poignant tribute to her son, recalling him as an “adorable, happy, and clever” child. “Remembering how delightful Michael was in the first half of his life makes it even harder to come to terms with the tragedy that unfolded during the second,” she said in a statement by Assistant Coroner Ms Katy Dickinson.
Michael’s passion for aeronautical engineering was evident from a young age, as he became enamoured with aircraft design. His mother described him as a “born engineer” whose talents were overshadowed by his ongoing mental health challenges.
Despite receiving various forms of treatment, including therapy and medication, Michael’s mental health continued to decline. Medical professionals noted his recurring suicidal thoughts, but assessments concluded he did not meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act following his A&E visit. His GP, Dr. Daniel Sears, highlighted the difficulty in gauging the seriousness of Michael’s expressions of suicidal ideation, stating, “He spoke about suicide for a long, long time.”
In a heartrending account, Tanya recounted how Michael’s desire to return to the family home devastated her and her husband. Sometimes, they found him sleeping in his car or on their patio. Tanya expressed her belief that mental health services had failed Michael, leading to a devastating outcome. “He took his own life as the direct result of over two decades of sustained profound failure of the Sheffield City Council’s Mental Health and Social Care providers in ‘caring’ for him,” she stated. “His tragic death is not only the most devastating loss for us but also a loss of a genius with enormous potential.”
The inquest also considered whether the authorities had breached their duty to protect Michael’s life, but this was not upheld based on the evidence presented. Coroner Ms Dickinson concluded that Michael died as a result of suicide, stating, “Ramy Michael Baxby died on November 19, 2023. He suffered from mental illness for many years, which led him to take his own life.”
In the wake of her son’s death, Tanya has vowed to campaign for accountability in mental health care for autistic individuals. She plans to collaborate with Professor Simon Baron-Cohen from the Cambridge University Autism Research Centre to raise funds for vital research. “I made a promise on the day of Michael’s funeral that I will campaign to do all I can to ensure those responsible for the shocking state of care for autistic people in our country are made accountable for their failure,” she said. “I will not stop my campaign for as long as I live.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, support is available. Samaritans can be reached at 116 123, via email at jo@samaritans.org, or by visiting www.samaritans.org for local resources.
‘Reflecting on the joy Michael brought during the early years of his life makes it increasingly difficult to accept the sorrow that occurred in the latter half.’
