A MAN who struggled with mental health issues for years took his own life and was found in a wooded area behind Mullion Gymnastics.

Jeremy Puttick died on April 28, and a coroner's inquest at County Hall today concluded that he intended to end his own life. The official cause of death was asphyxia and hanging. Several of his family members attended the inquest, which coincided with World Mental Health Day, and told the Packet afterwards that they wanted to raise awareness of issues surrounding mental health.

Assistant Coroner Barry Vandenberg said: "It's obvious from the turnout that we have got that he had a loving family. I am so sorry for your loss."

Jeremy had been receiving sporadic treatment for mental health issues since 2001 and his sister Tracy Broughal raised some objections to the way that the mental health services dealt with his case.

Tracy said that the family had been concerned for his safety, as he had been going on longs walks late at night.

According to Vicky Crowther, from the Kerrier Integrated Community Mental Health Team, Jeremy mentioned that he had been going out running in the middle of the night.

She said the mental health team were treating this as a positive thing as he was exercising and losing weight.

His sister Tracy also said that she asked for Jeremy to be sectioned, as she was concerned about his behaviour in the weeks leading up to his death.

She said: "I phoned up and said, 'If you don't do anything, something will happen to him'."

Vicky Crowther explained that there was a "high threshold" for sectioning and that Jeremy was working with the team by attending all of his appointments.

She also said that there were "never any signs of suicide or self harm" during his sessions.

Tracy also mentioned that "he was very good at having a psychotic thing and then he would be a different person when he went to the doctors, because he knew he had to behave".

He was a father and a keen photographer and will be known to some readers for his contributions to the Packet Camera Club.

A statement from his GP was read out at the inquest and said "he gave me a particularly beautiful picture of Mullion Island he had taken," just weeks before his death.

If you need help with mental health issues contact the Samaritans via www.samaritans.org, call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

  • An earlier version of this report stated that Jeremy Puttick's body was found days after his death. His body was in fact found hours later. We would like to sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused his family.