A family have been left devastated by the death of a much-loved mum-of-two who had a “perfect life” but battled with her mental health for years.

An inquest heard concerns were first raised when Nicola Batchelor, from Chartham, near Canterbury, failed to pick up her sons from her mother-in-law’s house.

By the time the 38-year-old’s worried husband Ruari reported her missing to police, she had taken her own life at the White Cliffs of Dover.

Following the tragedy, her family say she will be “a huge loss to this world”.

Mrs Batchelor was a nature lover and led a forest school called Bee Outdoors in Kent, as well as having a job as a receptionist.

But the inquest at Oakwood House in Maidstone heard she struggled with feelings that “she wasn’t good enough”.

Reading from a police report compiled after Mrs Batchelor’s death, coroner Katherine Hepburn said: “Ruari explained that Nicola and he had the perfect life together.

“They did not have money concerns and had a family and a family home, but what affected Nicola most in his eyes were her high standards that she judged herself by.

“Nicola would always question whether she did enough, whether she was good enough for the children and similar things.

“This led to her constantly feeling she wasn't good enough.”

At the inquest on Friday, the coroner laid bare the heartbreaking circumstances leading up to Mrs Batchelor’s death.

Having finished work at 12.30pm on Friday, August 23, she had been due to pick up her sons, who are both of primary school age, three hours later – even calling her mother-in-law to confirm.

However, the inquest heard she instead drove straight to Dover and spent more than an hour on the cliffs near South Foreland Lighthouse.

She then stepped off the edge shortly after 3.15pm, according to four eyewitnesses, the inquest heard.

Mr Batchelor had grown concerned by his wife’s failure to be home at the usual time, as well as not answering phone calls.

He returned to their house and reported her missing to police at 5.32pm, unaware of the tragedy that had occurred that afternoon.

The inquest heard that months before her death, Mrs Batchelor had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She was also hoping to find out whether or not she had ADHD.

She had spent the majority of her adult life battling depression and her moods were known to swing from one extreme to the other.

Her medication to treat her illnesses was being altered as doctors sought to get the balance right.

In the weeks before her death, it was reported how she had made remarks about suicide. Whereas previous talks with her husband to discourage this prompted an active response, that was no longer the case.

At the time of her death, therapeutic levels of prescribed medications were detected in her system but there was nothing to indicate they would have had any effect on her.

Dr Salih Babiker, a consultant psychiatrist at Laurel House in Canterbury, had first come into contact with Mrs Batchelor in June when she was referred to him following a manic episode which had led to her being taken to hospital.

“She really will be a huge loss to this world…”

He wrote to the coroner saying: “Nicola showed low risk of self-harm or suicide [at her first referral to mental health teams].

“She denied any suicidal ideation, planning or intent.

“It was noted she had protective factors - her children, her husband, her brother and her mother were supporting her.”

But an appointment eight days before she died revealed she was “tearful and distressed”. She was also “not coping” with having a low mood, plus poor concentration and appetite - though she had been making plans for the future.

Coroner Katherine Hepburn said: “From the evidence before me, the most appropriate conclusion for me to return in this case is one of suicide.”

Despite the best efforts of the police, no notes or any indicators of a reason behind her decision were found and officers were unable to retrieve her phone.

Mrs Batchelor died from multiple injuries, the inquest heard.

As the inquest concluded, family members remarked on how cherished she was.

“She really will be a huge loss to this world,” they said.

Her older brother, Oliver Dawson, told KentOnline: “In light of my sister’s death, my family and I would like to pass on our deepest gratitude for the great efforts of the multiple rescue teams involved on the 23rd August: the police, coastguards, paramedics, air ambulance, the lifeboat crews and the rescue helicopter and all others involved in recovering her.

“Despite the circumstances of her passing, we will always remember her for the joy and warmth she brought us in life. Her mind was always plagued by noise and now I hope she has finally found peace.

“For everyone who crossed paths with my little Lala, their lives were made all the better for having had her in it, even if it were all too brief a time.

“If there is something my grief is telling me, it is that we should never take each others mental well-being for granted and to really ask how we are all doing, and not settle for ‘fine’ as an answer.”

Mrs Batchelor, who is originally from Eastbourne, is survived by her husband, their two children, her two siblings, her parents and her extended family.

Mental health problems can affect any of us at any time in our lives.

When life gets tough, talking can help.

Call the Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123, or chat in confidence to a trained Release the Pressure adviser, anytime, just text the word SHOUT to 85258 or call 0800 107 0160.

For details about other mental health support in Kent and Medway, including Amparo who provide support to anyone bereaved by suicide, please visit kent.gov.uk/mentalhealth