TV industry has ‘a lot to answer for’ after death of true crime producer – inquest

A talented television producer who worked on Netflix and Channel 4 shows took his own life after struggling with “chronic” work-related stress, an inquest heard. John Balson, a 40-year-old freelancer, died by suicide after leaving a letter for his family detailing his struggles with mental health and overworking, it was said. An inquest heard the dad – who was expecting a second child at the time of his death last year – had desperately sought help for extreme migraines he began experiencing.

However, despite having expressed suicidal thoughts on multiple occasions and being deemed at “high risk” by doctors, he was never referred for in-patient care, a hearing was told. The inquest, held in Maidstone, Kent, heard Mr Balson worked long hours – often across different time zones – producing true crime documentaries for the likes of and Channel 4.

The previously fit and healthy father began experiencing extreme and chronic migraines, dizziness and insomnia.

Mr Balson desperately sought help from several medical professionals, including his GP and neurology and psychiatry experts.

A private specialist eventually told him that he likely had vestibular migraine disorder, a complex neurological condition causing dizziness and balance issues.

Despite several consultations, prescribed medication and two stints in A&E, Mr Balson continued to suffer a daily physical and mental torment he described as like “having a hot knife in his head all day”.

He also lost all enjoyment in interests and hobbies which had previously brought him joy and relief from the demands of his high-pressure job, such as running, cooking and learning Japanese.

Mr Balson’s inquest, attended by his wife, Yumeno Niimura, and mum Margaret, heard he took his own life on May 17 last year.

The inquest heard police were alerted to reports of a man seen on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Dartford Crossing.

Mr Balson’s black Nissan Qashqai was picked up by CCTV travelling between Essex and Kent before stopping on the bridge, with a single occupant getting out on the driver’s side at around 5:20pm.

His body was later discovered by the coastguard, with a post-mortem report giving the cause of death as multiple severe injuries as a result of a fall from height.

Roger Hatch, the Senior Coroner for North West Kent, heard how at the time of his death, Mr Balson faced enormous pressure in his role as a freelance TV producer.

Before falling ill, he was working on a new series of In the Footsteps of Killers – a true crime series hosted by criminologist Professor David Wilson and Silent Witness actor Emilia Fox commissioned by Channel 4 and production company Alaska TV.

The inquest heard Mr Balson often worked long hours and that his role included researching sensitive subjects such as “horrific” murders and cases of paedophilia.

A report detailing his contact with various medical professionals in the weeks leading up to his death described numerous times he’d expressed thoughts of suicide.

In an initial meeting on April 18, the inquest heard Mr Balson had told medics he “could not cope with the pain in his head”, describing his mood as constant “despair and agony”.

He added he “shouldn’t have done so much work as a documentary filmmaker” and admitted to having “suicidal thoughts”.

Despite this, however, medics felt reassured that Mr Balson didn’t intend to act on these thoughts as he “wanted to be here for his family”, including his wife who was pregnant with their second child.

Just three days later, he was deemed “high risk” by a doctor after discussing self-harm and suicidal ideation and hearing from his mother, who was living with the family and felt she “couldn’t keep him safe”.

A day later he visited the emergency department at Queen’s Hospital in London but was allegedly discharged without a psychological risk assessment, reports.

Another A&E visit occurred after the family had gone away for a break but later left and returned by train after Mr Balson began experiencing severe panic attacks.

He continued to express feelings of “hopelessness” over the next few weeks and was frustrated that despite later receiving a vestibular migraine diagnosis, he’d seen no improvements with the drugs he’d been prescribed.

In a journal read to the court, Mr Balson wrote: “I need to see hope that I can be the person I once was.”

His medical notes report there being bruises on his head due to him “banging a bottle against it in distress”.

When quizzed by a lawyer representing Mr Balson’s family as to why he wasn’t referred for in-patient care, doctor Isabelle Ritouret said there was “no immediate risk” to his life and that he was “engaged” with treatment for his “intense chronic pain”.

She added she did not believe he intended to action his “suicidal thoughts” and was simply “venting his feelings”.

On May 15 – just two days before his death – Mr Balson’s counsellor expressed concerns to his GP after the freelancer told him this was “the last time he would speak to me” during a phone call in which he was driving and spoke “very calmly”.

In a heartbreaking letter to his family, shared with the court, Mr Balson relayed his struggles with mental health and overworking in the TV industry.

He said if he had his time again, he would have “worked less” and not done so much to impress others.

“Bosses in the TV industry have a lot to answer for,” Mr Balson wrote.

“We are treated as if we are meat. Worked all hours of the day without a care. There was never any care for how the hours or how the stories affected us. I have been a fool not to take more breaks in all of this.

“I just hope this helps make some changes that finally need to be made to stop this happening to anyone else. If anyone is reading this who works in that industry or another exploitive industry, stop working so hard and take a break, and don’t be so hard on yourself to make money.

“It is not worth risking a fate as grotesque as this. I was on a knife edge and didn’t know it. Life is nothing without balance. Something I have learnt too late.”

My Hatch told Mr Balson’s inquest: “I’m left with no alternative rather than to conclude the death of John was due to suicide.

“May I express my sympathies to his family.”

At the conclusion of the inquest, Mr Balson’s family said they felt “let down” by the system.

In a statement, they said: “There was no collaborative care – the right hand did not know what the left hand was doing. Our only consolation in this whole sorry mess is that John is no longer in pain.

“The impact on all of us is incomprehensible and difficult to articulate particularly as we grapple with the loss of such a remarkable and wonderful husband, father and son whose kindness and spirit touched so many lives.”

North East London NHS Foundation Trust has said it is rolling out new risk formulating training and considering the insights of families.

A spokesperson said: “We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr Balson and hope the inquest has answered any questions they have.

“We will continue to work with our communities to improve our services. We are grateful for our service users’ input on the way we assess risk, our safety management and discharge plans.”

In addition to concerns over his medical care, Mr Balson’s widow, Yumeno Niimura, previously described his death as a “failure” of the TV industry.

Channel 4 and have been approached for comment via email.

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said it was “shocked and saddened by John Balson’s tragic death and has remained in close contact with John’s family since”.

“We are offering the family our ongoing support and wish them strength as they navigate this deeply challenging time,” they continued.

“Following John’s death, Channel 4 instructed an external law firm to conduct a thorough investigation and we will share more at the appropriate time.”

Paul Sommers, the managing director of Alaska TV, said the company was “devastated” by what had happened but declined to comment further.

A has been set up to support Mr Balson’s wife and two children.