Was Lucy Letby Suffering From Any Mental Health Issue? Know What The Experts Have To Say

We may only get a brief glimpse into British killer nurse Lucy Letby’s deranged psyche through a few terrifying notes she left behind. She claimed in a note that she did “nothing wrong,” but added, “I AM EVIL, I DID THIS.”

“Forget defamation, police are investigating. Victimisation and discrimination. Everything is becoming too much and taking over my life. I really hate what this has done to me. I’m afraid and feel quite alone,” Lucy stated. “What lies in store for the future. How do I overcome it. How will things ever return to how they were? ABUSE, PANIC, FEAR, AND LOST. I’m not worthy of living. I took action. WHY ME. I killed them on purpose because I am a horrible, evil person and I am not good enough for them. Mum and Dad don’t deserve me. Without me, the world will prosper.

A certified Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist who evaluates, treats, and rehabilitates offenders who are mentally ill has offered us an insight into Lucy’s thoughts, even though the reason she killed several babies may never be understood. Dr. Sohom Das works with clients in mental wards, jails, and courts.

Compared to the other offenders I have assessed, Lucy is significantly different. “One significant factor was that there were hardly any red flag alerts. She wasn’t hostile, cantankerous, belligerent, or antisocial. As far as we are aware, she has never experienced trauma. She didn’t experience abuse, for instance. She didn’t even have conflicts with friends and peers, let alone any criminal past. In fact, she was regarded by her coworkers as hardworking and conscientious prior to the spike in infant deaths.

As a neonatal nurse at Chester Hospital in Cheshire, England, Lucy killed seven babies under her care and attempted to kill six more. She was sentenced last month to life in jail without the possibility of parole. The 33-year-old is currently regarded as one of the most active child murders in British history.

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Was Lucy Letby battling mental health issues?

Given that Lucy has kept her personality hidden from the outside world, it is challenging to understand her motivations. However, we may contrast and compare some of the most well-known healthcare professionals who have committed their crimes. Beverley Allitt, a fellow English nurse, was found guilty of killing four newborns in Lincolnshire between February and April 1991, trying to kill three more, and injuring another six people. By proxy, she had Munchausen’s. This divisive disorder causes the person to purposefully feign or even purposely create disease. According to Soham, the victim’s sympathy and attention are used by the attacker to gain some type of perverse pleasure.

“There appeared to be a ‘God complex’ with Harold Shipman, an English doctor who is regarded as one of the most prolific serial killers in contemporary history with an estimated 250 victims. His excitement came from having the authority to choose who lives and dies as much as from holding the vulnerability of death in his hands. I suppose there were traces of both of these legendary murderers in Lucy.

Other motivations could have been in play, such as those of control and power or “a morbid fascination with the parents’ grieving process.” It’s also possible that she enjoyed fooling the parents, causing their baby to die while also consoling them, in some sick way. She might have also harboured envy for the perfect family, perhaps because she believed it to be attainable in some way. She simply determined to destroy what she couldn’t have in her resentment, he continued.

When questioned about the possibility that Lucy had mental health problems, Soham responded, “It has been documented that Lucy suffered from some prior sadness and anxiety. Importantly, in my opinion, this had no bearing on her criminal responsibility. She may have developed a pessimistic attitude on life as a result, but that does not explain or in any way justify what she did.