A FATHER took his own life after he was discharged from a mental health trust, an inquest heard.

James Hulton died on the A127 on February 21 this year after he jumped from the bridge at Rayleigh Weir.

The 42-year-old from Benfleet died from multiple injuries.

At the inquest into the father’s death, at Essex Coroner’s Court yesterday, coroner Lincoln Brookes heard Mr Hulton’s had been a voluntary patient of the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

The court heard Mr Hulton had a background of mixed anxiety and depression, and had been discharged from the mental health unit on the same day as his death.

Dr Blaga Carr, a consultant psychiatrist for the trust, said it was “the right decision” for Mr Hulton to be allowed to be discharged.

Mary Ruck, representing Mr Hulton’s family, asked Dr Carr: “Based on what you know now on Mr Hulton, his car and matters explained today, do you feel any different?

“The family feel because he so swiftly acted after his discharge, it’s obvious they feel that he ought not to have been discharged.”

Dr Carr responded: “A tragic incident will make you reflect on our process and I think this is no exception. I think it’s a sad occasion and if I say that we cannot learn anything from that I would be wrong.

“We have been examining our own processes as to how we could improve and things we can do better. Often there are occasions where family will demand for the patient to be detained without realising there are limitations of our powers to detain someone under the Mental Health Act.

“It does not always mean what the family will want to happen will happen.”

The hearing also heard the trust had reviewed the case, with Principal Clinical Psychologist Rob McCarney saying there was “room for improvement” over communication.

Mr Brookes said the family had done “all they could” to help him and that there was “no egregious failure” in allowing Mr Hulton’s discharge. He said it was not possible to say with certainty if the family being consulted beforehand could have changed the outcome.

Reading the verdict, Mr Brookes said: “It was accepted that it would have been more prudent to have informed his family of the intent to discharge this would enable them to inform their views against discharge or safely accompany him home.”

In a statement following the inquest, Mr Hulton’s family said: “Jim was a much loved partner, daddy of three, son, brother and uncle and the family have been devastated by his death.

“We have been pleased to learn more about his care through the article two inquest process. We hope that no other family will find themselves in the same circumstances and will not have to endure our pain and sense of loss.”

Anyone who is having thoughts about self-harming, or is having concerns for the well-being of someone they know, can contact the Samaritans charity for free at any time at www.samaritans.org or call 116 123.