Janey Antoniou

Janey Patricia Evelyn Antoniou, 53, was a White scientist, musician, writer and award-winning poet from Reading. Janey was also a tireless campaigner who used her experience of mental ill health to fight for improved services. She trained over 10,000 police officers on how to better deal with people experiencing mental ill health.

Janey experienced depression since the age of 10 and was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 30. Writing about it, Janey said, "your brain and reason lose track of each other".

In 2010, Janey died a self-inflicted death alone in her hospital room in Northwick Park Hospital whilst detained under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act.

An investigation into her death was carried out by the same trust that was responsible for her care, Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, which found little to criticise. Her husband, Dr Michael Antoniou, protested against the lack of independence of the investigation, later bringing judicial review proceedings.

Although the High Court rejected Dr Antoniou’s appeal, an inquest jury criticised the care Janey had received in hospital prior to her death.  

Janey’s legacy continues to live on and an award in recognition of people who campaign for mental health rights is named after her.