The heartbreaking story of Anugrah Abraham, a 21-year-old trainee officer with West Yorkshire Police, has raised serious questions about mental health support within the police force.
Known to friends and family as “Anu,” Abraham died by suicide in March 2023, after enduring months of stress and alleged workplace bullying, an inquest has revealed.
Career Dreams Turned Into Stress and Anxiety
Anugrah’s dream to join the police began in childhood.
Moving from Delhi, India, to the UK in 2003, he applied to the West Yorkshire Police in October 2021 and initially found joy in his new role.
However, family members claim his experience quickly soured, especially after he was assigned to the Halifax Police Station in April 2022.
Problems reportedly began when Anugrah found himself struggling to balance police work with assignments for his apprenticeship degree.
Claims of Bullying and Racial Discrimination
Amar Abraham, Anugrah’s father, shared during the inquest that his son had told him about feeling “bullied” and experiencing racism.
Anugrah confided that he was under constant pressure, was often criticized, and felt he had been “set up to fail” by his superiors.
He also described having nightmares in which his sergeant appeared to be “strangling him.”
West Yorkshire Police has denied these allegations, and an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found no evidence of unequal treatment.
Inadequate Mental Health Support
The coroner’s inquest into Anugrah’s death highlighted a lack of immediate mental health support.
Although he was referred to the police force’s occupational health unit in January 2023 after confiding about depression and suicidal thoughts, Anugrah’s appointment was delayed by three months—far beyond the expected five-day timeframe.
His family noted that he was open about his stress and even considered leaving the police, but feared it would make his efforts feel “pointless.”
A Final Attempt to Seek Help
In February 2023, Anugrah took a brief leave to visit Amsterdam with friends, sharing his struggles and his desire to quit.
Close friend Daniel Rogers testified at the inquest, saying Anugrah felt “picked on” and “shouted at” by his colleagues.
When he returned from his trip, he appeared visibly worried about resuming work.
The day before he was due to report back, he spent time applying for other jobs but ultimately left home without returning, and he was found dead the next day in a wooded area near Radcliffe.
Coroner’s Verdict and Family’s Response
Senior Coroner Joanne Kearsley concluded that Anugrah’s death was due to suicide.
She stated that, on the balance of probabilities, no preventive measures could have altered the tragic outcome, though she would file a prevention of future deaths report to the National Police Chiefs’ Council regarding the mental health support for officers.
Anugrah’s family, however, has expressed deep disappointment with this conclusion, struggling to understand how the coroner arrived at her decision.
Looking Forward: The Need for Better Support
The tragedy of Anugrah Abraham’s untimely death underscores a pressing need for stronger mental health resources within police departments.
His family hopes that by sharing his story, they can prompt changes that will protect future officers from similar struggles.
For those in crisis, confidential support is available through organizations like Samaritans and CALM.
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