A YOUNG mother who plunged from the Itchen Bridge in Southampton had sought help from hospital staff for mental health problems less than 24 hours before her death.

Jacqueline Bartlett died in Southampton General Hospital a day after jumping from the toll bridge in Woolston.

The Southampton inquest heard, the 30-year-old from Heath Gardens, Netley Abbey, had visited the same hospital hours earlier in a distressed state.

Detective Constable Kerry Loveless read a statement from the mum-of-one’s friend Rachel Mays who accompanied her to the Accident and Emergency department on March 13 when she complained of hearing voices.

The inquest heard how staff arranged a mental health assessment with her GP in Canute Surgery the following day.

Both women attended the surgery, but Ms Bartlett, a former heroin user who was on a course of methadone, was “pacing around” and left without her friend.

Soon afterwards she jumped from the bridge, landing in Mitchell Close below.

The inquest heard how Ms Bartlett – who worked at a respite centre in Netley – told residents rushing to her aid “it’s never going to end, please kill me” and “please help me die, I’ve had enough”.

A letter was found at her house later showing her intentions to take her own life. Recording a suicide verdict Deputy coroner Gordon Denson said: “She was aware of the consequences of her actions in jumping off the bridge.”