David Joyce

DATE OF REPORT 25th June 2026

A coronial investigation was commenced on 1 st September 2023 into the death of David Paul Joyce, aged 33, who had been found deceased on 31 st August 2023 at his home address of  52 King Arthur’s Road, Exeter, having ligatured [REDACTED]. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 17 th June 2026. The medical cause of  death was recorded as 1a) asphyxia due to hanging and the conclusion was suicide.

David Joyce had a history of mental health difficulties. In 2018 a psychiatric review diagnosed that David was having an acute dissociative episode and he was prescribed Quetiapine. In the summer of 2023, having had a period of some stability, his mental health deteriorated  following the breakdown of a relationship, and he was experiencing feelings of low mood and  having difficulty sleeping. He initially consulted the GP about this on 16th May and was  encouraged to go back to work and get out of the house. In June 2023, David was arrested having taken an overdose of paracetamol and caused  damage to his room; he was seen by the Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion Team in custody and was referred for support and advised to contact his GP. He approached his GP and  disclosed that he had not been taking his Quetiapine since he’d moved to Exeter some years  previously, and that he considered his most pressing symptom now was depression rather than anger. The GP issued a prescription for Quetiapine, seemingly with no consideration of a  referral to mental health services, or any request for specialist psychiatric input regarding  appropriate medication. On 22 nd August, David was found in a local wood [REDACTED]. He was encouraged down and detained under the Mental Health Act. A mental health act  assessment was conducted; David was referred to the Home Treatment Team and was seen  by them on a number of occasions during which rapport was built and a plan for care going  forward considered. David consulted with his GP again on 24 th August and requested an  urgent medication review. The GP advised that it would not be appropriate for her to make  changes to his medication given that he was under the support of the Home Treatment Team,  and, in evidence, said she thought the medication review would be undertaken by them. No medical review was conducted until 31 st August, at which point alternative medication was  prescribed, which was considered more appropriate to David’s symptoms. Later that evening,  David was found dead at his home address of 52 King Arthur’s Road, Exeter, having suspended himself [REDACTED]  He had written a note to his family which was found [REDACTED].