Stressed head killed herself, coroner rules

And paying tribute to Helen Mann after the suicide verdict, her husband said she was 'desperately missed' by him and their two children.

Mrs Mann placed immensely high' expectations on herself in her new role as head of Sytchampton Endowed First School and, when the pressure proved too much, she took her own life, the inquest heard.

Just days before the tragedy, the mother of two took an overdose of the sleeping tablets at her home in Droitwich Road, Worcester, the inquest had heard.

Mrs Mann, aged 43, was discovered lying on the main staircase of the school, with a ligature wrapped around her neck on November 5.

The horrific discovery was made by the caretaker on the day Mrs Mann returned to work after being off sick for four weeks. It was a teacher training day, when no pupils were on site.

Recording the suicide verdict, Worcestershire Deputy Coroner Mrs Marguerite Elcock said: "Mrs Mann was a dedicated and professional teacher – a lady who placed immensely high expectations on herself ,who felt under pressure in her new role with all that entails, who feared failure and who, when the pressure proved too much for her, took her own life on November 5."

Mrs Elcock, speaking at the end of the three-day inquest at Stourport, added: "Whilst off sick Mrs Mann hit a tremendous low and took an overdose of sleeping tablets and was taken into Worcestershire Royal Hospital."

Mrs Mann's husband, Phil, told the inquest yesterday that he had left his wife sleeping on the morning of October 26 while he got their sons ready for school and set off for work.

He received a call at midday from Mrs Mann, saying: "I have done something really silly, I have taken some tablets."

She had taken eight tablets of the prescription sleeping drug zopiclone. Mrs Mann was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Dr Josie Conquest, who treated Mrs Mann at the hospital, said in a statement: "I was satisfied that it was a spur of the moment action."

She referred Mrs Mann to the hospital's mental health liaison team for further assessment. The inquest heard that before this, Mrs Mann had attended three counselling sessions.

In a statement issued today Mr Mann said: "Helen was the nicest, kindest and most dedicated person you could ever meet."