'Beautiful' primary school teacher told to 'find new hobby' before tragic death

A primary school teacher was told by a GP to 'find a new hobby' before she tragically took her own life following a battle with depression, an inquest heard.

Janet Ann Roberts sadly died after taking an overdose of prescribed medication, Lancs Live reports. The much-loved mum, described as 'beautiful inside and out', had suffered with mental health issues since being a teenager and had been prescribed anti-depressants.

The 57-year-old teacher was being supported by her husband Gary, and their two daughters Ashleigh and Claire, but in the weeks before her death her mood had worsened. In May this year, Janet went with her husband Gary to see Dr Dipankar Saha, who at the time was a trainee GP at Queensway Medical Centre.

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Janet described to the doctor how she was feeling worse and the GP increased her medication with a plan to review it in a few weeks' time. He also suggested she 'find a new hobby' her husband later said.

On July 3, Janet, from Thornton-Cleveleys, was alone at her home when Gary returned to find her collapsed on the floor and suffering from what he believed was a seizure. She was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but sadly died the following day.

A post mortem revealed she died from taking an overdose of prescribed medication. An inquest held at Blackpool Town Hall heard that Janet's husband Gary had been critical of Dr Saha's consultation with his wife.

Gary said he felt it was 'wholly inappropriate' to suggest Janet take up a new hobby. Senior Coroner Alan Wilson recapped Dr Saha's evidence and said: "You considered the options and decided this wasn't a case to refer to secondary mental health services.

"She had denied any self-harm