A man suffering from depression who killed himself had seen four mental health workers in the two months leading up to his death.

An inquest in Reading on Tuesday, April 2, heard how Christopher Milward was found dead by police at his Elm Park home, in Tilehurst, on November 10, last year.

A neighbour called the police after becoming concerned he hadn’t seen Mr Milward for some time.

Officers found the 37-year-old lying face down in a bedroom.

They also reported finding books of a suicidal nature and two typed letters together with a box of medication.

In September Mr Milward signed off work with depression and was prescribed anti depressants by his doctor. He told his GP he was feeling low and anxious with some suicidal thoughts but no intent and was referred to Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Talking Therapies.

During his initial screening with psychological wellbeing practitioner Hannah Hill, Mr Milward admitted he had thought about methods of killing himself. He also said he did not want his suicide to be an impulsive act and he had started a draft letter on his computer.

Within the next week he saw two mental health practitioners who reported similar feelings of depression and suicidal thoughts.

However Mr Milward also expressed a desire to change his negative thought pattern and so was referred for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

CBT high intensity therapist Christopher Quirk saw Mr Milward on October 8, and reported that Mr Milward had wanted to overcome his difficult situation.

Around the same time he returned to work and was reported by his colleague Amanda Folden to be “positive and seemed happy”.

Pathologist Dr Fawaz Musa found the cause of death to be suffocation. Coroner Peter Bedford recorded a verdict of suicide.