eryn Bond, 16, had been struggling to cope with the stress of her GCSE exams

A 16-year old girl hanged herself after she became stressed about her GCSE exams, an inquest heard today.

Aeryn Bond struggled to live up to her own 'exceptionally high standards' and was suffering from anxiety and low self-confidence when she took her own life.

The hearing was told Aeryn became so stressed about her upcoming exams she even refused to take mock tests, and her predicted grades slipped from top marks, down to Bs and Cs.

Aeryn Bond was given a series of appointments with psychiatrists, the final one coming just four days before her death, to try to help and she was also prescribed anti-depressants

However, the 'very private' teenager, who was a keen drama student and passionate about Shakespeare's plays, told a psychiatrist she did not want to seriously hurt herself just days before she was found dead by her heartbroken mother Ellen.

The inquest into Aeryn's death heard she had hanged herself in the bedroom of the family home in Ryde, Isle of Wight, hours before Mrs Bond discovered her at 10.30am on February 22, last year.

Coroner Caroline Sumeray told the hearing Aeryn had met with her GP who found the youngster was beset with anxiety and confidence issues, and had been struggling to cope with the stress of GCSE exams.

The doctor said that as a result the schoolgirl had been failing to maintain her A-grade performance.

Aeryn Bond struggled to live up to her own 'exceptionally high standards' and was suffering from anxiety and low self-confidence when she took her own life. The hearing was told Aeryn became so stressed about her upcoming exams she even refused to take mock tests

The schoolgirl was given a series of appointments with psychiatrists, the final one coming just four days before her death, to try to help and she was also prescribed anti-depressants.

Mental health nurse Melanie Smith told the inquest Aeryn found it 'exceptionally hard' to talk about the stresses she was dealing with and felt different from other children her age..

Miss Smith, 47, said: 'Aeryn loved Shakespeare, she was exceptionally passionate about it. We bonded a little because I have a background in musical theatre.

'She helped me to understand it and that she liked the deep and emotional stories.

'Aeryn told me she wanted to function better. She found it difficult watching her peers and thinking that was not what she was doing with her life.

'She felt like she was on the outside looking in - those were her words.

'There was a sense she felt people were asking so many questions, but she was not being listened to, even though people were.

'I used the word perfectionist with her and I feel she had exceptionally high standards for herself. She was setting herself up for a fall.

'If she was going to do something, she wanted to know she was going to do it well.'

The inquest heard the teenager had denied wanting to seriously hurt herself or take her own life, but was found hanged still wearing her pyjamas.

Psychiatrist Lynne Oldman fought back tears as she said the teen had struggled to open up in their sessions.

Aeryn Bond's parents Ellen Bond and Jason Bond are pictured at an inquest held in Newport. The inquest heard the teenager had denied wanting to seriously hurt herself or take her own life, but was found hanged still wearing her pyjamas [File photo]

Dr Oldman, 57, said: 'Aeryn was asked about [harming herself] and she did admit to that but she was obviously not wanting to talk about it.

'I am quite direct in my questions and I think that was hard for Aeryn. She really struggled to talk in the appointments.

'From what I know of her, she was a very private person.

'I saw her four days before her death. She was much as she had been at other appointments. She found my questions intrusive.'

Fighting back tears, the psychiatrist added: 'I don't think there was anything I could have done differently and that's the very sad thing.'

The inquest at Isle of Wight Coroner's Court continues. It is set to finish tomorrow.