Alert Regarding Suicide Risk Associated with Antidepressants Following the Passing of Thomas Kingston

A senior coroner has warned that there is a lack of communication over the 'risks of suicide' associated with anti-depressants following the death of royal family member Thomas Kingston - who ended his life after reacting to his medication.

Mr Kingston, whose marriage to Lady Gabriella at Windsor Castle in 2019 was attended by the late Queen, died by suicide after he shot himself in February of last year.

An inquest into the 45-year-old's death was told he had recently been experiencing anxiety and when he took his life, had not long stopped taking antidepressants prescribed by a Buckingham Palace doctor.

Although he exhibited symptoms, the financier had not indicated any thoughts of suicide, and Gloucestershire coroner Katy Skerrett noted that his 'intent is still uncertain' due to the 'negative effects of medications he had been prescribed recently'.

In a recent report aimed at preventing future fatalities, Ms. Skerrett, the senior coroner for Gloucestershire, expressed worries about the sufficiency of communication concerning the suicide risks associated with these medications.

In delivering a verdict of suicide, she raised concerns about whether the existing recommendation to 'continue' the medication is 'suitable' in situations where the person is experiencing 'negative side effects'.

While spending the weekend with his parents in Kemble, a town in the Cotswold area of Gloucestershire, the businessman made the tragic decision to end his life.

After having lunch with them, on February 25, he began to load his car and prepared to return to London.

 Ms. Skerrett stated that around 5pm to 6pm, Mr. Kingston 'took a shotgun out of his car, which he had just borrowed from his father for a shooting event.'

"She continued, 'He then entered an extension connected to his parents' home.'"

'In a locked bathroom, he inflicted a gunshot wound to his head, resulting in injuries that were not compatible with life.'

The ex-negotiator was later discovered by his father and was declared dead at 6:54 PM by the police, who stated that there were no suspicious factors related to his passing.

The coroner stated, "Mr. Kingston ended his life with a shotgun, resulting in a significant traumatic injury to the head."

'The intentions are still ambiguous since the individual who passed away had been experiencing negative side effects from medications he had recently started taking.'

The inquest revealed that he had been 'recently facing anxiety' but had 'not indicated any thoughts of self-harm'.

According to reports, Mr. Kingston was prescribed sertraline, an antidepressant, along with zopiclone, a sleep aid, after he expressed difficulties sleeping due to work-related stress.

According to reports, both individuals received prescriptions from a general practitioner at the Royal Mews Surgery, a medical facility located at Buckingham Palace that serves the staff of the royal household.

Mr. Kingston came back to the clinic expressing that he wasn't experiencing any improvement, prompting his doctor to switch his medication from sertraline to citalopram, which is a comparable medication.

Reports indicate that in the days prior to his passing, he had recently ceased his use of anti-depressants that were prescribed to manage his symptoms.

Following his passing, the coroner has expressed concerns that without intervention, there may be a potential risk for others to experience similar fatalities linked to the issues surrounding anti-depressants.

The coroner raised concerns about the sufficiency of communication regarding the suicide risks linked to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications.

"She also mentioned that it's important to consider whether it's advisable to continue with SSRI medication or to transition to a different SSRI, particularly if no positive effects have been observed and/or if any negative side effects are present."

A report aimed at preventing future fatalities has been submitted to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Every organization must submit their response by March 3.

Following the tragic passing of Mr. Kingston, Buckingham Palace issued a statement honoring him as an 'extraordinary individual' who 'brought joy and brightness to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him'.