Tragic dad-of-two took his life after ‘build-up of issues’

A YOUNG dad took his own life after a ‘number of traumatic life events’ and a battle with mental health problems, an inquest heard.

Mark Topham, 36, was found dead in bed at the family home in Littleborough, Rochdale, in November last year.

An inquest into his death heard a shotgun was found laying across his chest and that he died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

His marriage had broken down in the years beforehand and he had been declared bankrupt a year earlier, the hearing was told.

The dad-of-two was also being treated for both depression and ADHD at the time of his death, the hearing was told, with the coroner concluding he had intentionally taken his own life.

Mr Topham had first sought professional help for low mood in 2014 when he was referred for counselling the inquest was told, before being later prescribed anti-depresessants.

His mother Lyn Topham said his ADHD diagnosis came as a ‘relief’ to him as it ‘gave him answers as why certain things had happened’ in his life.

Mark had split from the mother of his children in 2014 and had been declared bankrupt in 2018, Mrs Topham said. She added these were two of a number of issues which began to ‘build-up’ and saw his mental health

Mark Topham took his life in November last year deteriorate ‘ quite quickly’ from late September last year.

Giving evidence via video link she said: “I think it just became too much for him. He struggled to cope and to function. With financial management, organisation and things like that.

“He’s always struggled with that and I think his marriage breaking down, having to start again and rebuild a home, he ran up a lot of money trying to do it and went bankrupt and it got out of control. I think it was just a build-up.”

Mrs Topham said in October and November of last year Mark arranged meet-ups with friends and relatives, including travelling 400 miles to Scotland to see his auntie unannounced.

He also gave away some items that were precious and sentimental to him.

She said at the time this gave her no cause for concern but that ‘looking back I think he made his mind up what he was going to do’.

The inquest heard the firearm found next to him belonged to Mr Topham’s father who had a licence for its legal possession. It had been locked in a cabinet at the home on Higher Shore Road with the keys locked in a safe.

The inquest heard a note addressed to his parents was found in a notebook part of which read: “Sorry I nicked your keys to the cabinet, I hope I didn’t get you in trouble with the police.”

Assistant coroner Julie Robertson recorded a conclusion of suicide at Rochdale Coroner’s Court.