A young woman whose life was "blighted" by depression took her own life, a coroner has ruled.

Dominique Crandon-Nearey was just 19 when she died on September 1 last year.

An inquest at Flax Bourton Coroner's Court heard that Miss Crandon-Nearey had for a long time been at serious risk of suicide before she was found hanging from a tree in the garden of her home near Congresbury.

Dr Michael Taylor, her GP from the Yeo Vale medical practice, said: "Dominique's life was blighted by depression and thoughts of suicide for several years.

"Despite many trips to the surgery we didn't manage to succeed in helping her enough that she stopped her thoughts of suicide."

Miss Crandon-Nearey, who lived in Honeyhall Lane, Brinsea, was treated by psychiatrists when she first became depressed following the death of her maternal grandmother, who was described at the hearing as "her rock" and shared her interests in reading and classical music, in 2006.

In a report read out during the inquest, psychiatrist Dr David Cook said that after her grandmother's death Miss Crandon-Nearey's "sense of self had dissolved".

In March 2007 Miss Crandon-Nearey moved out of the home she shared with her mother, Barbara, her stepfather, Steven Johns, and their son, Alistair, and did not know whether to stay at college or get a job.

In June last year Dr Taylor asked for her to have an urgent psychiatric assessment because he feared she would commit suicide.

Dr Cook said: "She found the constant trend of her life was downwards, with less and less achievement, and felt her relationship with her mum and stepfather had gone downhill."

In August she met with Dr Cook and was prescribed anti-depressants and cognitive behavioural therapy.

He said: "It was very clear she had been living with feelings of hopelessness and despair for many years, and was at times preoccupied with thoughts of suicide."

In a statement read on behalf of Miss Crandon-Nearey's family, Mr Johns said: "She found it very difficult to interact, leave the house or communicate with friends. It started at the time of her GCSEs. Her behaviour and attitude changed, she dropped out of college and went missing from home, and about then she wanted to kill herself."

Her mother and brother went to America on holiday, and Miss Crandon-Nearey stayed with Mr Johns, spending most of her time in her bedroom.

Then, on the morning of September 1, Mr Johns found her in the garden by an apple tree with a noose and scarf around her neck.

A note was found in her bedroom in her handwriting, saying she was sorry and that she couldn't cope any more.

Assistant deputy coroner Terence Moore ruled that she had taken her own life while the balance of her mind was disturbed.

● Most people who are thinking of taking their own life have given warning signs beforehand.

These can include becoming depressed or withdrawn, showing sudden changes in behaviour or mood, talking about wanting to die and feelings of hopelessness.

These feelings do improve and can be treated.

If you are concerned about someone, or need help yourself, please contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 day or night.