Promising student worried about debt took his own life

A promising student, who became worried about mounting debts, killed himself and left a suicide note on a letter from the bank, an inquest was told.

Toby Thorn was worried about his student debt Photo: CATERS

Toby Thorn, who had been studying for a degree in computing at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, had run up £5,000 in debts and had a £3,000 overdraft when he took his own life.
The 23-year left a note on the back of a letter from his bank, which read: “Thank-you to all my friends I appreciate all your support.”
Next to his body police found a cylinder of helium and a half empty bottle of vodka.
An inquest into his death ruled that worry about student debt had been a major contributory factor in his suicide.
Despite performing well on his degree course, Mr Thorn dropped out midway through his second year amid mounting concern over his finances.
He picked up his studies once more, but dropped out again in his third year in the hope of going into business with a group of friends.
However after moving into a flatshare his mounting financial worries became too much to bear.
His body was found in a field in July 2011 and his mother Anne, 56, is now campaigning for better awareness of the pressure mounting debt is placing on young people.

- Telegraph.co.uk