THE father of a supermarket supervisor who took his own life is warning people to be vigilant about the ‘modern epidemic of mental health’.

Nathan Whitmore, who worked at Booths in Kendal, was found dead in his bedroom on Valentine’s Day this year.

An inquest into his death heard, while he had suffered from depression, the 24-year-old had given no indication that he had planned to kill himself.

“We have all discovered this year that mental health and clinical depression can happen to anyone and even those closest to it don’t even know the extent of the suffering until it is too late,” said his father Alan Whitmore after the inquest.

“Please be vigilant with those you care about around you as in this modern world it can literally happen to any of us. Nathan took his own life without failed attempts, self harm or without any warning.

“Mental health issues are a modern day epidemic that needs to be tackled.”

The inquest was told Mr Whitmore was discovered by his father in the basement of the family home on Sedbergh Road when he went to ask him if he wanted a takeaway.

Lynsey Whitmore, Nathan’s step-mother, said she was sitting in the living room when Alan came in ‘looking as if he had seen a ghost’.

Paramedics were called but the inquest heard Mr Whitmore was likely to have been dead for a number of hours.

Mr Whitmore, who studied music at Kendal College and went to Queen Katherine School, had been prescribed anti-depressants in June 2016.

But records showed he had not been back to see a doctor since.

Alan said his son had taken time off work before returning in December 2017.

“The way that Booths managed it during and since has been exemplary,” he said, adding his son was not worked ‘excessively hard’.

“He had taken time out but we didn’t have any concern about his general welfare.

“We didn’t pick up any difficulties.

“We had no indication that he was clinically depressed and had got himself into a place where he did what he tragically did.”

Prior to taking his own life, Mr Whitmore had loaded the dishwasher, tidied up and completed some household chores, the inquest heard.

Coroner Robert Chapman concluded Mr Whitmore killed himself, adding: “There was nothing at all to suggest he was likely to kill himself. It’s very clear there was a lot of planning involved.”

Booths raised money for mental health charity MIND in memory of Nathan in a cycle ride on two static bikes in an attempt to cover the equivalent distance of a days’ leg of the Tour de France.

On the day, the team doubled its target and managed to cover 438km, raising a total of £517.65 for South Lakeland MIND. Mr Whitmore said the total raised by the store for MIND is now more than £2,500.

Specialist manager Simon Brock said: “MIND is a charity that’s close to our heart, so to be able to give something back is a great feeling and we’d like to say a huge thank you to everybody who came and supported us on the day.”

South Lakeland MIND works within the local community to improve wellbeing and support anyone with mental health issues.

Visit www.justgiving.com/southlakelandmind to donate.