A Wherstead man who was found dead at his home had been assessed by mental health three days before he took his own life, a Coroners Court in Ipswich heard on Friday

Father of two Jak Blackwood, 34, had been to his GP on May 30 last year saying he had been feeling suicidal and had attempted to take his own life two days earlier.

Mr Blackwood, who had been a volunteer at Jimmy's Farm and worked as marketing manager at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, had struggled to deal with the break down of his marriage in January 2023, the inquest heard.

Mr Blackwood volunteered at Jummy's Farm (Picture: Nub News)

Presiding coroner, Mrs Catherine Wood heard how Mr Blackwood had made two attempts to take his own life between February and May 2023.

Both times, he received support from the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

After seeing Mr Blackwood the GP arranged for him to be taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance, where he was assessed by nurses from the hospital's mental health liaison team.

One nurse told the court that she had spoken with Mr Blackwood for between one and one and a half hours.

She said that he presented in "calm and coherent" manner, and was able to discuss and agree to an action plan to keep himself safe.

As he had been speaking with friends and felt more able to process his feelings, Mr Blackwood declined home treatment from the crisis team.

He was discharged from Ipswich Hospital after being given a number for the crisis team, and an electronic letter was sent to his GP with advice to prescribe him sertraline, a drug which he had previously been taking, and diazepam if necessary.

On June 2, Mr Blackwood's friends became concerned that they had been unable to contact him. They attended his home, where they discovered that Mr Blackwood had died.

Mr Blackwood's father, Andrew Blackwood was at the inquest, that heard he questioned why Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust had not made contact with his son's friends or family regarding his mental health.

He said that he was grateful for the kindness of Mr Blackwood's network of friends. "I believe they did their best," he said.

"But sometimes, love and comfort are not enough, and professional support is needed."

Inquest heard at Suffolk Coronoer's Court in Ipswich (Picture: Nub News Library

Coroner Mrs Wood said that she understood the difficult position of health clinicians in these cases.

She said: "It is very hard to make a risk assessment, because people, particularly articulate and intelligent people, can sometimes say what they think people want to hear.

Mrs Wood added she had not heard any evidence to suggest that Mr Blackwood should have been kept in hospital against his wishes on May 30, or that contact should have been made with his family without his consent.

She also said she was not sure this would have made a difference, even if the clinicians had done so.

Mrs Wood recorded a conclusion of suicide, and ended proceedings by passing on her own sincere condolences to Mr Blackwood's family.

*If you would like to talk about your mental health issues please contact The Samaritans here or call 116 123.