A 32-year-old struggled with his mental health for 20 years before friends found his body in a park.

Nathan Butler, who was found dead in Mote Park, Maidstone, lived with gender identity disorder, body dysmorphia, asperger's syndrome, high functioning autism, depression and anxiety.

Evidence given today heard Nathan "really began to struggle" when he was left ineligible for support a year after trying to take his own life.

Coroner Bina Patel told the inquest the former Rochester Math School student was referred to mental health services aged 11 when he was diagnosed with high functioning autism, asperger's, depression and anxiety.

At 15, the avid reader tried to take his own life.

Det Sgt Scott Winteridge told the inquest: "He received counselling support from CAMHS, a children's mental health service.

"He left school at 16 with five GCSEs from A* to B, he was very intelligent, as his mum said he never really revised for any of those subjects.

"Nathan left CAMHS when turned 16. He was not eligible for support until he was 18, this left him with a huge hole in his support network.

"During this time he really began to struggle."

In the years that followed he was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a long-term condition which causes pain all over the body, and would later suffer with body dysmorphia and gender identity issues.

In 2016, Medway-born Nathan was referred for therapy in Maidstone under Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust.

At the end of 2017 he was referred to Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, for gender identity support.

Speaking at today's inquest, his mother, Sonia Butler, raised concerns the service did not offer support to the catalogue of mental health difficulties Nathan lived with.

She said: "All the other issues he had, none of those were being addressed."

On February 23 Mrs Butler called police after Nathan went missing from the family home in Weavering.

A search helicopter and a drone were deployed, but it was the 32-year-old's friend who found his body in Mote Park on February 24.

Det Sgt Winteridge told the inquest Nathan's body would not have been visible to passers-by and it was only discovered as friends were walking through the woodland to find him.

Mrs Butler, along with other friends and family, shared tributes to Mr Butler the day after his body was found.

Nathan sister, Amy-Joy Butler, described him as the "most caring person I've ever met".

Miss Patel concluded today's inquest, ruling Nathan Butler died as a result of suicide.

If you are struggling, please contact Samaritans on 116 123.

Support is out there, to see some of the services available in Kent, click here.

The Papyrus Hopeline is also available to call for young people under 30 who need someone to speak to - 0800 068 4141.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone