Man killed himself after being cut off from sons

A FATHER-of-four took his own life after a series of mental health struggles and drug misuse, an inquest heard.

Richard Jeavons, 37, (pictured) was found dead at his Chelmsley Wood in Beech Avenue on December 2 but CPR efforts failed to revive him.

Mr Jeavons, a Birmingham-born electrician, was struggling after news he would no longer be able to see his children after a dangerous driving conviction.

He was given the news as he was handed a two-year community order for theft, attempted theft, assault and dangerous driving in September last year.

He was told he could not have contact until his sons turned 18, and was banned from driving and fined.

Assistant Coroner Rebecca Ollivere recorded a verdict of suicide as the inquest concluded at Birmingham Coroner’s Court on Tuesday.

Mr Jeavons was suffering from emotionally unstable personality disorder, substance misuse, ADHD and drug-related psychotic symptoms.

When he was first referred to the early intervention service at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust in 2018, he had been motivated to engage.

Miss Ollivere told the court: “He struggled with his mental health and substance misuse. He also had a history of various suicide attempts over the years and he had ADHD.

“Richard was referred to the early intervention service, and he remained with them for three years. It became apparent during this time that his psychosis was not related to a specific mental health condition, but was due to his misuse of drugs.”

He was discharged into the community and allocated a care coordinator.

But over the summer of 2021 he became “very unstable” and he was added to the waiting list for a hospital bed.

However, he was trying to engage with the services by attending cycling groups and narcotics anonymous.

He managed to reduce his substance misuse and on December 1, he called his care coordinator, Geraldine Avis, to discuss his future.

He gave no indication that he would harm himself, the court heard. But within hours, police officers were called to his Birmingham home where he was found dead alongside two suicide notes for his children and parents.

No care or service delivery problems or missed opportunities were found in his care, a root cause analysis concluded.