A 'KIND, loving and adventurous' woman who spent years travelling and teaching abroad took her own life due to her complex mental health issues combined with the social isolation she experienced during lockdown.

Abigail Doherty was found dead in her bedroom by her mother, at the home she shared with her parents in Cliviger on Wednesday January 6.

An inquest at Preston Coroner's Court heard the 38-year-old had been diagnosed with depression and anxiety while living in Hong Kong and was prescribed diazepam.

Coroner James Newman said: "She returned to the UK six years ago and remained on medication.

"She had made previous attempts at self-harm and had been under the care of mental health services and the home treatment team."

It was heard that since her return to the UK in 2014 Abigail's mental health had deteriorated.

She experienced a lack of self-confidence and at one stage had been detained in hospital for her own safety.

The teacher, of Burnley Road, contacted her GP in December last year after experiencing suicidal thoughts and was referred to the crisis team.

Her care co-ordinator, Alan Heywood, said Abigail's initial engagement with the mental health team in 2017 was 'patchy', but from June 2020 she co-operated well.

In a statement, Mr Heywood said: "It was apparent she was not mentally well and needed significant input from the service to monitor her safety."

Mr Newman told the inquest that Abigail had experienced anxiety and was feeling socially isolated during lockdown, which had also put a stop to her plans of going to America.

He said: "A review was carried out and found that in addition to her complex condition, severe limitations put on her by the pandemic had made the management of her condition very difficult."

On January 6, Abigail's mother had been out shopping but when she returned in the afternoon she went to her daughter's bedroom to tell her she was going to prepare dinner, and sadly found her dead.

A post mortem examination determined the cause of death was one of hanging.

Mr Newman added: "Abigail grew up in a stable and loving family. She achieved well educationally and was described as a kind, caring, loving, intelligent, adventurous woman.

"She spent a number of years travelling around the world teaching.

"In 2014 she returned home from the Far East where she had been teaching, following a break-up of a relationship.

"She suffered from quite complex mental health conditions and engaged with services but there was difficulty managing these and they were very difficult to support.

"Abigail made three previous, serious attempts to self harm and on January 6 she was found hanging at her home address.

"I am satisfied that the appropriate conclusion is that of suicide.

"I do find that for someone in Abigail's condition the complexity of her issues combined with the restrictions associated with the pandemic would have been incredibly difficult, not only for her, but for all people with mental health conditions."