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.