Politicians have demanded an inquiry into why a mentally ill woman was not given care and support for more than a year before she took her own life.

An investigation by The Herald has revealed that the 51-year-old's death last month, which went unreported, came after Glasgow City Council claimed she did not require help for her condition.

This was despite repeated warnings by health officials that Ms Sadigova - who had been diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and had been hospitalised twice because of her condition - was a suicide risk and would be likely to suffer from a serious relapse if benefits and housing were withdrawn from her.

Ms Sadigova, a history graduate who came to the UK after studying for a PhD at Moscow State University, claimed she fled Russia because she had suffered persecution because of being Azerbaijani and her Jehovah's Witness faith.

However, her asylum claim and a subsequent appeal were rejected and her benefits were withdrawn in April 2005.

The council then began legal proceedings to evict her from her flat but eventually postponed this pending the results of a judicial review into her case.

Ms Sadigova first came to the attention of health services in 2003 when she was found jumping in front of cars on a busy Glasgow street and subsequently sectioned for treatment.

A report by her GP and consultant psychiatrist warned that she was "extremely vulnerable to social stress" and that withdrawing benefits could lead to a further episode of psychosis.

However, a later report by the council's social work department, carried out in January 2006, found she was "currently mentally well" and her only difficulties were due to stress caused by her uncertain immigration status.

A report carried out two months later by an independent social worker contradicted this, stating that Ms Sadigova was "a vulnerable adult who needs support in respect of her diagnosed serious mental illness and deplorable social situation".

Friends of Ms Sadigova told The Herald that her mental condition had deteriorated rapidly in the months leading up to her death.

In the last few months she was delusional, had cut off all contacts with carers and friends and talked repeatedly of killing herself. Her only income was £20 a week, given to her by a mental health charity.

Her son, Tamerlan Tajaddinov, 21, a third-year computer science student at Glasgow University, said he felt let down by the council.

He said: "The social services department did fail my mother. I tried to get in touch with them on numerous occasions but they didn't feel she was in need of urgent medical assistance."

At a judicial review in the Court of Session later this month, the council was due to defend a claim that it had failed to perform its statutory duties with regards to Ms Sadigova under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act and the Social Work (Scotland) Act.

Under the terms of new mental health legislation, which came into effect last October, local authorities have a duty to provide care, including housing and financial support, to people assessed as having needs due to a psychiatric condition.

Calls for an inquiry into the case were made by members of the cross-party parliamentary group on refugees and asylum and have been backed by the Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH).
S
andra White, the SNP MSP for Glasgow and member of the group, said:
"Obviously this case has highlighted the fact Glasgow City Council was not carrying out its duty.

"If you have a doctor and experienced social worker saying this woman had mental health problems, their experience and judgment is far greater than that of someone without a medical background.

"It is worrying if those views have not been acted upon."

Linda Fabiani, the group's convener, and Donald Gorrie, a LibDem MSP and member of the group, both backed calls for an inquiry.
Charlie McMillan, policy director at SAMH, said people with mental health needs should be given help, whatever their immigration status.

"If they're in Scotland the law of the land is quite clear. Basically it is a fundamental human right to get access to treatment, care and support at any time," he said.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said its policy was to provide housing support for any asylum seeker diagnosed with mental health issues if a community care assessment showed they had a high level of need.
Council insiders claimed attempts had been made to carry out further assessments of Ms Sadigova's needs but she had not co-operated.

The spokesman added: "In this sad and tragic case, an assessment in January 2006 indicated the woman was able to live at home and undertake a college course, as well as other work in the community.

"It would therefore appear that her condition deteriorated significantly in the subsequent months but her carers were unable to perform a further assessment despite their on-going concerns for her welfare."

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde refused to discuss the case but said its policy was to provide medical care where there is clinical need, whatever a patient's asylum status.

In February, the health board was treating 86 asylum seekers and refugees with mental health problems, of which seven were considered destitute after benefits were withdrawn.

A Crown Office spokeswoman said it is investigating the case to decide whether to hold a fatal accident inquiry.