Years of stress led to mum's suicide (From Warrington Guardian)

Years of stress led to mum's suicide

A DEPRESSED mother ended her life after becoming totally beset with worries, an inquest has heard.

Kevin Ledwards found Julie, his wife of 12 years, suspended by washing line rope from the upstairs banister at their Lodge Drive home on November 22, 2004.

Her death followed years of anxiety and acute stress.

Mr Ledwards, an LGV driver, told the inquest at Crewe Magistrates court last Wednesday that his 43-year-old wife became depressed in 2001 following a car accident which prevented him working, a family upset and her mother suffering a stroke.

Struggled

He said she struggled to see she was making progress through the depression and her stays at Leighton Hospital increased following two suicide attempts.

Richmond Fellowship support worker, Theresa Candy, said Mrs Ledwards seemed 'calm' on the morning of November 22 but her suicidal thoughts never left her.

Coroner Dr Janet Napier recorded a verdict that Julie took her own life while the balance of her mind was disturbed.

She concurred with the post mortem examination findings that Mrs Ledwards' death on December 8 - following a long period in intensive care at Leighton Hospital - was caused by bronchial pneumonia, cerebral hypoxia as a result of asphyxia, and hanging.