Vegan College Student Dies by Suicide. Experts Say Her Mental Decline Was a 'Direct Result' of Her Diet
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Georgina Owen, a 21-year-old vegan college student, died by suicide in 2019 after developing a vitamin B12 deficiency linked to her diet, which triggered psychiatric symptoms including delusions.
- Owen had stopped taking B12 supplements for at least six months prior to her death, despite her family noting erratic behavior and mental health deterioration in the weeks leading up to the incident.
- Medical experts and the coroner's report highlighted that B12 deficiency can cause severe psychological symptoms such as psychosis, mania, and cognitive impairment, underscoring the importance of supplementation in vegan diets.
- The inquest concluded that Owen was experiencing delusional beliefs caused by B12 deficiency at the time of her death, with her vegan diet being the direct cause of the deficiency.
- Researchers and medical publications recommend that individuals following vegan diets take certified B12 supplements to prevent similar health risks.