[mobertol]

As far as I know there has been no official inquest pronouncement about Lucy Meadow's death - therefore it really is jumping the gun to speak of suicide. No suspicious circumstances means not a murder, therefore I think two verdcts are probable either death by natural causes or suicide - but it is for the coronorer to pronounce the verdict when He/she has all the facts.
This was a very tragic death whatever the outcome of the inquest as a young person has lost their life, a child has lost a parent and many families and friends will be grieving. My condolences to them.
I totally agree with Marg P's comments on her fragility due to hormanal imbalance - mood swings are something most women have to cope with at some point in their lives, PMT is not a mental illness but it is hard to cope with as are the hormonal changes a woman goes through in her later years - leading to the menopause. I am not an expert but imagine the effects of hormal treatment for gender reassignment may be akin to this. Neil, a female brain IS different to a male one but not for this reason is it to be considered inferior or "sick" in some way -just different, for it's chemical make-up and layout!
Lucy, I believe had a lot of support from her colleagues, from what I read in the papers and was a highly valued teacher, she also had the support of both her family and in-laws. Her life choice would have had no effect on her capacity to teach well, which is, after all what is important -particularly in junior school where the foundation stones are laid for academic and general life.
Being hounded by the press would have made Lucy's life particularly stressful during an already difficult period. I think possibly the level of sustained interest was perhaps more than any of those immediately involved could ever have imagined and whether any of the members of the press commited any illegal actions will have to be considered IF and WHEN a suicide verdict is given. Gender assignment is not a new science and the need for it is not covered under any kind of mental health treatment, it is purely a medical condition and I believe treatable on the NHS with all the necessary support.