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A desperate mum who feared losing her benefits after being told to find a job took her own life after dropping her son at school, an inquest heard.

Amy Nice, 21, felt 'pressurised' to find work under the government's Universal Credit scheme despite being diagnosed with kidney disease and suffering from severe depression and anxiety.

She wrote in a suicide note that she "couldn't see a way forward" after months of financial worry.

Amy, who had a history of self-harming dating back to when she was 12, was found hanged in woodland near the village of Coppull in Lancashire, close to her home.

A coroner gave a verdict of suicide, saying the risk of losing benefits would "play massively on a young woman's mind with a young child and history of illness".

Amy had been receiving treatment for kidney problems but she also been see her doctor with undiagnosed gastric difficulties and chronic back pain.

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

In 2016 she was told by staff at the Department of Work and Pensions to find work or prove she was actively seeking work - but she was not given a sick note until September last year - just six weeks before her death.

Her mother, Joy Nice, 55, told the Preston hearing: "Universal credit was a massive factor in Amy's presentation. On September 6 she rang me saying she felt very suicidal. I tried numerous times to call the crisis line and it just rang and rang.

"Amy suffered from depression and anxiety. It is very difficult when you are depressed because you don't even want to get out of bed and talk to people and you need the support of people."

She said Amy's appearance changed drastically, but no one knew what the problem was.

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

Joy said: "As a family, we question whether if Amy had been given a sick note earlier, would this have made a difference to her outcome?"

Dr Suzanne Heald, Amy's GP said she had suffered with kidney problems, and continued: "I did on one occasion see Amy for low mood and she was prescribed anti-depressants but there was no reference to any suicidal thoughts.

"There were at least three other references when seeing other doctors where she had some suicidal thoughts but her son was identified as a protective factor."

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

Dr Heald told the inquest: "A lot of the reasons for her depression was financial because she was bringing her son up on her own.

"There was one mention of her ex-partner being on the scene which made her extremely anxious at one point. She was having panic attacks when she saw her ex-partner and her mood was quite low and she was also suffering from severe back pain and had been referred to a chiropractor for these concerns.

"Towards the latter visits she was given a sick note because she wasn't capable at that time to be looking for any permanent work."

Mental health nurse Emma Clayton said: "In the last few months her benefits were giving her cause for concern as they had been putting pressure on her. Her position was pretty much the same and this was the only additional thing I could see that was obvious.

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

"Her anxiety seemed more focused on financial matters. Since the government has been putting pressure on people going back to work we have seen a rise in patients coming through presenting similar symptoms of feeling pressured."

Police were called to the scene of the tragedy after Amy was found by a passerby.

Det Insp Jane Webb of Lancashire Police said: "I found four notes at the scene, one was addressed to family, friends and her son saying she was truly sorry for her actions but that she couldn't see a way forward or what she could do. That affirmed my belief that this was an action Amy chose to take."

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Coroner James Newman said: "Amy had a long documented history of significant physical illness that I believed to her depressive illness. These were all documented and very cyclical in nature."

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

And the coroner continued: "She was under pressure from the Department of Work and Pensions - a source of income she relied on. The pressure was to get back to work be able to prove she was searching for work.

"In a person with her mental history I could understand that would be difficult. There is pressure that she could run the risk of losing her benefits and I can see that financial matters would play massively on a young woman's mind with a young child and history of physical and mental illness. It seems matters had been coming to a head for Amy for a few weeks."

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

In a statement at the time of Amy's death her mother said: "Amy was gregarious and outgoing. She liked to be around people and she was very memorable and was very loved.

"It's very difficult when you are depressed because you don't even want to get out of bed and talk to people and you need the support of people. "Amy found it very hard to marshal her thoughts and explain to me how she was feeling.

"I think for other people who are suffering from depression, talk to other people who are going through it. You can't explain to somebody who hasn't been there, it's impossible."

A DWP spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with Ms. Nice’s family at this difficult time. Suicide is a very complex issue, so it would be wrong to link it solely to someone’s benefit claim.

"We’re committed to ensuring that people with mental health conditions get the full support that they need.”

If you need support, you can call the Samaritans free at any time of the day or night from any phone on 116 123. You can also email at jo@samaritans.org .