A 21-YEAR-OLD mother and supermarket worker who was found dead at her Aberystwyth home had suffered with mental illness for years, an inquest has heard.

The family of Zena Hughes, who was found hanged at her Bridge Street flat on Thursday, 29 March, told the Cambrian News of their “unbearable pain” at the loss of a “bubbly and friendly” daughter, sister, and mother to five-year-old Joshua.

Returning a verdict of suicide today (Tuesday), HM Coroner for Ceredigion, Peter Brunton, said Ms Hughes’ stepfather, Darren Roberts, had found her dead at her home after going to check on her because she had missed a medical appointment.

Asked how Ms Hughes had been in the days and weeks leading up to her death, Mr Roberts said: “She was anxious, she wasn’t calm and seemed very, very worried. She had been suffering with mental illness, and had a small mental breakdown only a few weeks before.”

The court heard that Ms Hughes, who was working at the Morrisons store in Aberystwyth, had first come into contact with mental health services in December 2012, and that she had continued to use their services up until the day before she died.

Mr Brunton read out a statement from Ms Hughes’ psychiatric specialist, Dr Harish Reddy, who said that Ms Hughes was “stressed and agitated” when she was informally admitted on 16 March this year.

Ms Hughes visited mental health staff a further four times between 16 and 28 March, but told them she was experiencing “no suicidal thoughts”, and only claimed to be looking forward to having custody of her son Joshua.

The court heard that Ms Hughes was visited by psychiatric nurses every day to check on her and to administer her prescription drugs.

Mr Brunton said: “The evidence here is that she was found at home by her stepfather, Mr Roberts, who was moved to go to her because she had failed to go to an appointment.

“At 3pm on 29 March, Mr Roberts was confronted by what must have been a grotesque and devastating sight.

“Ms Hughes clearly had a history of mental illness that she had severe difficulty with, including depressive and other mental health problems.

“It seems that she had been given quite considerable assistance by the care authorities, and they were attending every day to see she was alright. But whatever assistance she was being given came to nothing.

“I record a verdict of suicide, while suffering from a very depressive illness. Mr Roberts, may I offer you my very profound sympathies.”

If you have been distressed or disturbed by this report, you can ring the Samaritans on 08457 909090.