A much-loved wife and successful singer died after taking her own life in Birmingham amid struggles with perimenopause and the exhaustion of a “hectic work schedule”, an inquest has heard. The death of Danielle Moore, the frontwoman in popular band Crazy P, left family, friends and communities across the world heartbroken.
The 52-year-old, described as ‘kind, witty and intuitive’ by loved ones, was fatally injured as she was struck by a train near to the under-construction Kings Heath station at around 4pm on August 30 last year. Danielle, born in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, was due to celebrate her eighth wedding anniversary on the weekend after she died, Birmingham Coroner’s Court heard today, January 16.
In the hours before her death, she had done laundry, contacted her tour manager to confirm guest lists for an upcoming gig and, unusually, bought a bottle of whiskey from a nearby shop, the court was told. She had been struggling with the “double whammy” of the pandemic, which cancelled her work as a musician, along with the onset of perimenopause, the inquest heard.
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When work returned after the lockdown, she was busier than ever with gigs across Europe and worldwide, leaving her ‘burned out’ and ‘exhausted’, her husband told the court. Danielle, a step-mum to her partner’s children, had a history of mental health struggles, with previous suicide attempts dating back to the late 90s and 2010, the court heard.
She had started Hormone Replacement Therapy, HRT, but due to her busy work schedule, she was unable to ‘optimise the benefits’ and her husband found a three month supply after her death. Recording a conclusion of suicide and her cause of death as multiple injuries, Area Coroner James Bennett told her family and friends: “I have been a coroner for a long time but cases like this still upset me. I’m really sorry for your loss, what happened is truly awful.”
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Other depression charities
Mind is a mental health charity that offers information, support and resources for those that are struggling. They also offer help for young people and those supporting someone in their life with mental health struggles. Call Mind info line on 0300 123 3393.
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There are other depression charities and support you can access. If you are seriously concerned, please call 999.
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A missing person’s report was filed when her husband, James Ensell, failed to hear from her all day, felt “something wasn’t right” and returned to the property to find the “door wide open.” Mr Ensell, who had been with Danielle for ten years, said: “She was a remarkable woman and a genuinely unique example of the human race. She was uncanny, intuitive and had compassion for others. She had a razor sharp wit that could sometimes be mischievous. She was immensely fun to be around, but she was very self depreciating and humble.
“When things began to open up her schedule was more intense than it ever had been. Her work schedule didn’t comply with the HRT, she didn’t get close to optimising the benefits of that. The summer months were punishing. She was performing around Europe and the world.
“It was three weeks before she died that she told me she was exhausted. Her schedule was utterly exhausting. Two weeks before she died she was searching for ‘symptoms of burnout’ and ‘what to do if you’re burned out,’” he added. She believed she was suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder, the court heard, but she was not diagnosed with any mental health condition at the time of her death.
Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your daily life, including relationships, social life, family life and work. It can feel different for everyone. You may have a number of symptoms or none.
Symptoms usually start months or years before your periods stop. This is called the perimenopause, the NHS website says
Mental health symptoms
Common mental health symptoms of menopause and perimenopause include:
- changes to your mood, like low mood, anxiety, mood swings and low self-esteem
- problems with memory or concentration (brain fog)
Physical symptoms
Common physical symptoms of menopause and perimenopause include:
- hot flushes, when you have sudden feelings of hot or cold in your face, neck and chest which can make you dizzy
- difficulty sleeping, which may be a result of night sweats and make you feel tired and irritable during the day
- palpitations, when your heartbeats suddenly become more noticeable
- headaches and migraines that are worse than usual
- muscle aches and joint pains
- changed body shape and weight gain
- skin changes including dry and itchy skin
- reduced sex drive
- vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex
- recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- sensitive teeth, painful gums or other mouth problems
Her final gig with the band Crazy P, an electronic band formed in 1995, was at the Lost Village in Lincolnshire. Mr Ensell added: “She got back home and we met and had a right laugh together, she seemed on great form. When I asked her about her Lost Village gig she seemed unusually critical about her performance.”
On the week of her death, she had travelled to Birmingham as her husband had work there. He recalled: “I needed to work in Birmingham for the rest of the week, she insisted she would travel down as she wanted us to be together. She had a 30 minute conversation with a therapist in Edgbaston on the Tuesday.
“We ate what would be our final meal together and talked about the future, our campervan adventures and we watched some TV which she fell asleep to on the sofa. She said how tired she was.” The pair had been planning to spend Monday and Tuesday together for their anniversary, with Mr Ensell keen to finish up work ready for his days off.
Recalling the day of her death, he continued: “I decided to work and left Danielle for what would be the final time around 9am. Every day I would get a call or text off Danielle, this day I received no call or no message.
Journalists are always allowed to go to inquests and are allowed to report anything which is said in court. Many journalists report inquests as part of the principle of ‘open justice’.
The purpose of open justice and reporting from inquests is to: make sure that the public understands the reasons why someone has died, make sure that deaths are not kept secret, draw attention to circumstances which may lead to more deaths or injuries and to prevent this from happening and clear up any rumours or suspicion about the death.
“I hadn’t heard from Danielle, I tried to call her and she didn’t pick up. I was aware she hadn’t tried to call me back. I had a feeling something wasn’t right. I came back and the door was left wide open. She had done laundry which was hanging outside, her Mac book and phone were left neatly on the dining room table.”
A close friend, Rebecca, told the inquest Danielle had been a “kind, loving and loyal friend” with a “quick wit and humour.” Paying tribute, she said: “She is already incredibly missed. Her career gave her the ability to travel and she was grateful for that opportunity. She felt incredibly lucky to have the career and lifestyle she had. She was inspirational to many.” She described her career as a “hectic work environment and schedule.”
Mr Bennett concluded her perimenopausal symptoms had a “more than minimally impact” on her mental health. He said: “Danielle died at around 4pm on August 30 having purposely placed herself in front of a moving train. In 2010 she had attempted to end her life and was treated briefly for anxiety in 2017. More recently, it was recognised she had low mood, against a background of exhaustion of working as a musician and symptoms of perimenopause.
“The day before her death she contacted a private therapist. On the morning of her death, she made searches online. Otherwise, her actions were otherwise unexpected. I conclude Danielle’s death was the consequence of suicide.”