A young Ashford man killed himself just hours after leaving a mental health unit with no phone or money.

Homeless Jack Barton, 21, from Kingsnorth, had for a long while suffered with ADHD and drug problems, and his mum said he had a history of anxiety and depression.

He was found hanging in the woods behind his mum's house, in Kingsnorth, just hours after discharging himself from a psychiatric ward.

Jack had been admitted to Priority House, in Maidstone after an earlier suicide attempt and following erratic behaviour.

But despite having no address, phone or money, after a short stay he discharged himself and staff paid for a taxi back to his mum's.

The taxi driver dropped him at the end of the road and he quickly collected a change of clothes, his trainers and his bank card from his mum’s house.

Hours later, Jack was found dead in a wooded area off Steeds Lane just hours later on September 21.

At an inquest into his death at Folkestone Magistrates Court Assistant Coroner for South East Kent Christopher Morris heard about the troubled young lad's previous suicide attempts.

The court heard Jack had been using and dealing cocaine, which dramatically affected his mood swings.

The former Homewood School pupil lived an "erratic" lifestyle and his mum Christine said he had lost contact with his school friends.

Michael Hopkins, a mental health nurse who had been on duty when Jack was admitted, said: "He came across as a troubled young man who did not seem to know where he was going in life.

"He felt he had been brought into the wrong place. I explained about signposting and where he could get help but he was reluctant to stay in hospital.

"I considered using an emergency holding power but he said 'I'm not ill, all I want is housing and employment.'"

His Mum Christine told health teams she was worried because the son she knew could be absolutely lovely but he also became incredibly hostile and would damage her home.
On the day of his death, police were called to a heavily wooded scene near Steeds Lane, where Jack was found hanging.

He was surrounded by a rucksack, his care plan and a handwritten note.

It said: "Here I am. I feel I have a better understanding of life. It's not all about me. We are all just humans.

"Life is a battle, it can be good. I feel like I need to say sorry, if I could fix it then I would. I hate myself. I'm a horrible person. It's not my fault. It's not my mum's fault.

"Yes I'm scared. Life is an experience. I do wonder what will become of the world.

"I can hear the dogs barking, the birds chirping. I'm sitting in a ditch, reality has hit me."

The powerful note was found on top of the care plan he'd received from the hospital.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Assistant Coroner Christopher Morris, said: "This is a tragic case involving a man who died far too young.

"Jack was clearly a much loved son and brother and we have heard evidence that he was a lively and hyperactive child.

"I can hear the dogs barking, the birds chirping. I'm sitting in a ditch, reality has hit me" - Jack Barton's suicide note

"He did not really seem to settle at school and was assessed as having ADHD. After education he had a number of jobs but it didn't rally seem to settle him to find his place in life.

"After a while Jack's mother developed a suspicion that he had become involved in the drug scene. He moved away from the area and was thought to be supplying drugs.

"Jack felt he was in the wrong place when admitted to Priority House and didn't need help with his mental illness but with housing and securing employment.

"He was not suffering from psychosis and he told the doctors he was glad to be alive. They considered him stable and not a high risk of self-harm and so could not be detained.

"I remain satisfied having heard all evidence that in that moment he intended to bring about his own death.

"This must have been a devastating shook to the family. I consider this to have been an impulsive act by Jack, which can be associated with the use of cocaine, which was found in the toxicology reports."

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