Talented former student who battled with depression hanged himself after splitting with his girlfriend
23-year-old Jacob Miller was found dead on April 4
THE family of a former university student who took his own life while battling depression have described how his illness robbed him of his ''lust for life".
Jacob Miller, from Royton, near Oldham, Greater Manchester, was found hanged at his family home on April 4 - just one day after he broke up with his girlfriend.
The keen sportsman, who also had a passion for cinema, had been suffering from depression and had pulled out of a film and technology degree at Birmingham University during his second year.
At an inquest, a coroner refused to return a suicide verdict - instead ruling Jacob had "taken his own like whilst suffering from a depressive illness".
Jacob's father, Geoffrey Miller, told the hearing that his son had suffered with mental illness.
He said: ''He was affected by depression. There was a split from his girlfriend at the time, there was a subsequent relationship and separation and that's when he returned to live back at home with me and my wife. There was another relationship with a lady studying at Loughborough, that lasted until Easter of this year.
He added: "He met up with her on Sunday April 3. I never saw her but I spoke to him early in the afternoon. She had left by then and he was extremely upset.
"I think he did perceive the finality of that relationship. He was very down and went to his room. We had tea together but he was very quiet.''
Mr Miller explained it was not the first time Jacob had needed help - as his son had asked him to come home from work on March 21 "in case he might do something stupid".
He said Jacob had tried to self-harm at university, and had seen various professionals about his depressive illness since 2013.
However, the 23-year-old had cancelled his last appointment on April 1 and seemed down during a later meal out - just days before his tragic death on April 4.
The grieving father also told the inquest of the tragic circumstances in which he found his son's body.
He said: "I last saw him at about 9:45pm. I used to knock on his door and I went in. I used to do it every night and say goodnight. That was the last time I saw him alive.
"I returned home about 4:55pm and there were some letters in the doormat. To me the house seemed eerily still and I was under the impression he hadn't been downstairs. It was when I went to the foot of the stairs I saw him.''
Jacob's GP, Dr Pamela Heyes, added Jacob had stopped taking medication due to suffering from side effects.
She said: "He was working four days a week on a voluntary basis. He felt trapped because of no money or job prospects and was considering emigration.
"He was not keen to retry antidepressants. His girlfriend had gone back to university and he felt low."
In recording his verdict, Coroner Simon Nelson said: "I have no doubt in my mind that Jacob intended the consequences of his actions but I don't believe it would be right for me to conclude this enquiry without more firmly putting Jacob's actions in context.
''Although he was no longer receiving medication, he was suffering and continued to suffer from a depressive illness and there was no evidence of him either threatening or self harming prior to the onset of that illness in 2013.
"I do believe it would be right and proper for the conclusion to record that he took his own life, I don't use the term suicide. He took his own life whilst suffering from a depressive illness."
Following the inquest's conclusion, Jacob's family released a statement warning of the devastating effects depression can have.
They said: "Jacob was a happy-go-lucky young man before he became ill with depression. He was a big fan of Star Wars and Formula One was one of his passions that he shared with his dad. he was loved by his family and friends.
"He loved films and him and his dad used to go to the cinema together and they shared that passion as well.
"He loved the editing side of things, he liked the behind the camera stuff but still hasn't got his mind set about what he wanted to do. He was loved by his family and friends.
"He played rugby which started when he was five or six years old. He was into sports and he just had a real lust for life until the depression took hold. "It's incredibly difficult to bear from his family and friends. Hundreds turned up at his funeral and paid tribute to him.
The statement added: "You can never underestimate how devastating the illness of depression is. Jacob's case was not unique in any way, it just shows the devastating consequences of the illness.
"He had loads of friends and was very popular at university. He was universally loved by everyone that met him and he's left an incredibly positive legacy."
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