Mum of 'perfectionist' schoolgirl breaks down as she reveals 16-year-old 'felt like a failure' before she hanged herself

THE MUM of a "perfectionist" schoolgirl who hanged herself said the 16-year-old "felt like she was a failure" when she dropped out of school because of the stress of her upcoming GCSE exams, an inquest heard today.

Aeryn Bond, who struggled to live up to her own "exceptionally high standards", was suffering from anxiety and low-self esteem when she took her own life in February last year.

The model student's mental health spiralled when her predicted GCSE grades dropped from top marks to Bs and Cs.

The hearing in the Isle of Wight was told she became so worried about her exams she refused to take mock tests and eventually stopped attending school.

Aeryn, 16, was found hanged in her bedroom at the family home in Ryde, Isle of Wight, by her mum Ellen at 10.30am on February 22.

Mrs Bond told the inquest how her daughter struggled when she moved to secondary school.

She said: "Most of her friends went with her but I think as those friends developed other friendships, if she wasn't compatible with those people, she found it hard."

She also told how her "perfectionist" daughter found herself "unable to do the work" as she struggled with anxiety and depression.

Mrs Bond said: "It got to the point she just could not do it. She knew she wanted to get her GCSEs, her A-levels and go to drama school.

"In an ideal world, she would have stayed at the school but not taken her exams and then re-taken the year the following September in the hope she could have done them.

"But that couldn't happen. Coming out of school hit Aeryn hard. She felt like she was a failure."

Mrs Bond revealed how Aeryn wanted to become an actress and had developed a plan for a five-book fantasy novel series.

Yesterday the inquest heard how the schoolgirl had sent a desperate email to her drama teacher two weeks before her death saying she had "failed".

Aeryn had also booked in for a series of appointments with psychiatrists, the final one coming four days before her tragic death.

Mental health nurse Melanie Smith said Aeryn found it "exceptionally hard" to talk about the stress she was under.

The inquest continues.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or visit Mind’s website.

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