A WILMSLOW man who took his own life had recently been treated for mental health issues, an inquest heard.

Julian Barthel, 32, of Ashford Road, was found hanged at Stormy Point, Alderley Edge, on May 2 by a dog walker.

An inquest at Macclesfield Town Hall heard that Mr Barthel had voluntarily gone to psychiatric services at Macclesfield Hospital where he was treated for three days.

His notes said he was deemed to be ‘at risk of self harm and a risk of harm to others in a community environment’.

Hospital consultant Christopher Link told the court that when Mr Barthel left hospital, he had the support of his girlfriend – referred to as ‘Hannah’ at the hearing last Tuesday.

“There was quite significant support in place on Mr Barthel’s release to take his recovery forward,” he said. “What was documented in his notes is that Hannah was very supportive and she visited him on the ward before his discharge.”

However the court heard that Hannah had subsequently died too.

Mr Barthel, Hannah and a third friend named in court as ‘Hayley’, had all worked at the Merlin bar in Alderley Edge.

The court heard that Hayley had pre-deceased Mr Barthel, but Jean Harkin, the assistant coroner for Cheshire, ruled out a connection between Hayley’s death and those of Mr Bartell and Hannah.

Giving evidence, Pamela Daniels told the inquest that Mr Barthel was a friend of her son, and had gone to live with them in September, 2007 but had recently moved out. He was born in Germany but had lived in South Africa.

She said: “He was a very, very private person who did not share anything and wasn’t very forthcoming about his past.

“He came over from South Africa in 2003, his father had remarried and we understood that his mother had died in a car crash, However, we discovered subsequently that his mother had actually died in a bomb blast in1988.”

Mrs Daniels said Mr Barthel had tried to find a job in IT without success but had worked as a waiter at the Merlin Bar. More recently he had suffered from depression.

The pub’s manager Kimberley Buck, said that over the final six months of his life he had developed black rings around his eyes and had a ‘quite haunted’ look. Two days before he died he had split up with Hannah.

PC Sian Pinnington told the court that police officers had spoken to a number of people following Mr Barthell’s death, including Hannah.

She also said that Mr Barthell had left a suicide note.

“The best I can conclude is that all three people involved suffered with mental health problems,” said PC Pinnington. “The three were friends. It seems like Hannah and Julian carried some pain over her [Hayley’s] death and I believe that Hannah and Julian discussed taking her own lives together.”

“I believe that Hayley’s death was not linked to Julian’s. I believe that his mental health problems contributed to his death, but there had been some discussions between Julian and Hannah about taking their own lives together.”

“There is something in the last part of the note which tells her to watch a film. The plot involves a partner taking their own life and then the other takes their own life.”

Concluding, Mrs Harkin said: “It is very clear from the evidence that Mr Barthel had mental health issues and a diagnosis of personality disorder and episodes of self harm. I am satisfied that Julian was assessed thoroughly and that allowed him to be discharged.

“I accept the cause of death of hanging and there are no third party involvement. There are entries in the note that cause some concern and I think there is a link. On the evidence before me he took his own life while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

“What makes me sure that there is a link is the evidence that Julian’s girlfriend gave to PC Pinnington. In her evidence she said that they had discussed taking their own lives together.

“I also accept that the death of Hayley wasn’t related other than they were friends and they worked in the same place and I have no evidence to link that death to these.

“What also assists me in concluding a link was the evidence that Hannah had visited Julian the day before he was released, so there was evidence, of an ongoing relationship.”

Call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 24 hours a day, 365 years. Samaritans provide confidential support and advice.

For local help, contact CWP single point of access team on 01625 505626 to self-refer into the service or via your GP who can refer you directly and can also discuss the best form of support for you. If your need is urgent, you will be offered an appointment to speak to a mental health professional on the day. For out of hours support, please go to A&E Self refer to Big White Wall by visiting www.bigwhitewall.com. Big White Wall is a safe online community of people who are anxious, down or not coping who support each other by sharing what is troubling them, guided by trained professionals. It is available 24/7 and free of charge in East Amparo is a support service for people affected by suicide. Telephone 0330 088 9255 or email: amparo.services@listening-ear.co.uk.