A North London council has been urged to act after a man with a mental illness jumped to his death from a tall building he was housed in despite his history of making similar attempts to end his life. In June, Coroner Mary Hassell ruled that Mr Pellumb Olaj, 42, who had paranoid schizophrenia, died by suicide when he fell from his flat balcony in October 2024.
Ms Hassell said Islington Council should not have placed Mr Olaj in the property given his mental illness and record of suicide attempts, which included trying to jump from a high window “on more than occasion”. She said Islington had “failed to take this into account” when housing Mr Olaj in 2020 and needed to act to prevent similar situations in the future.
“In preparing for inquest inquest (not immediately following Mr Olaj’s death), Islington has now recognised the need to take such matters into account, but I am not clear that it has mapped a way to do this for new and existing tenants,” the coroner added.
To this, Islington Council said it was “somewhat unfortunate” that, at the inquest, it had not been given ample opportunity to explain the actions it was already taking, which included redesigning its housing services and bringing in psychiatric advice during its housing application process. The borough’s Assistant Director for Housing Needs said officers would have made this clear at the hearing if the council had not been dissuaded from preparing a written statement by the coroner’s office, and if the Town Hall’s third witness had been called to give oral evidence as expected.
‘No concerns raised’
The assistant director said that at no point in the roughly four years Mr Olaj was housed in the property did anyone – including his primary care physician, psychiatrist and specialist occupational therapist – raise any concerns. As council staff had mentioned at the inquest, he said, Mr Olaj had indicated during a 2022 review that he was happy with his flat. The council’s accommodation supply was also “extremely limited, especially on the ground and first floor,” he said.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cllr John Woolf, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, said: “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family, friends, and loved ones of Pellumb Olaj. I recognise the profound pain and loss they are experiencing and extend my sympathies during this incredibly difficult time.”
The cabinet member said the council had taken on board the coroner’s recommendations and “firmly committed to supporting residents facing homelessness and mental health challenges”. He explained it was now mandatory for the council to seek specialist psychiatric input when it became clear that individuals applying for housing had a mental health condition or a history of suicide attempts.
Cllr Woolf added that the borough’s broader commitment to curb and ultimately prevent suicides in the community was reflected in its Suicide Prevention Partnership between statutory services and the voluntary sector. This includes the crisis centre James’s Place in Old Street which offers free life-saving interventions for men.
You don’t have to suffer in silence if you’re struggling with your mental health. Here are some groups you can contact when you need help.
Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email [email protected] in confidence
Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won’t show up on your bill
PAPYRUS: For teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141
Depression Alliance: The charity offers useful resources for people struggling.
Students Against Depression: For students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): Phone 0800 58 58 58. For young men who are feeling unhappy.
James’ Place: Offering life-saving treatment to suicidal men in London and surrounding area.
For information on your local NHS urgent mental health helpline, visit here
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