A MAN hanged himself while suffering from severe depression, an inquest heard.

Steven John Catheral, aged 24, was found hanging from an attic joist in his home on Blake Avenue, Atherton, on October 6.

Efforts to resuscitate him failed and he was certified dead at the Royal Bolton Hospital later that day.

Mr Catheral's partner, Lynn Seddon, told the inquest at Leigh Town Hall that his behaviour had started to change seven months before his death.

She said: "He became very worried, thinking he was being followed.

"It became such an obsession that he had to go and see a doctor.

"He had never suffered from mental health problems before.

"He asked me once if I was going to kill myself how I would do it.

"I told him not to be silly.

"That was about a month or two before his death."

She said Mr Catheral, who was a window cleaner, had spent a few days in a psychiatric unit before discharging himself.

His body was discovered by a neighbour.

Dr Jonathan Pearson carried out a post mortem examination and said the cause of death was from hanging.

Coroner Aidan Cotter recorded a verdict that Mr Catheral had taken his own life while suffering from depression.

Mr Cotter said: "Depression is a recognised medical condition.

"I believe that he would have known what he was doing."