A TEENAGE mental health patient died four days after she was found hanged in the doorway of her hospital bedroom, an inquest heard yesterday.

Nichola Richards, who had a history of self-harm and swallowing objects such as teaspoons, tried to take her life on November 1, 2004.

The 17 year-old, who was sectioned at the Westwood Centre, at West Lane Hospital, Middlesbrough, died in the James Cook University Hospital, in the town.

She was discovered by a nursing assistant who was carrying out regular checks on the teenager, who was prone to mood swings and had previously talked of suicide.

On the day of the incident, nursing assistant Joseph Walker had been talking to Miss Richards when she told him she had suicidal thoughts the night before.

As a result, staff checked her every 20 minutes and monitored her behaviour more closely.

Helen Webb, who was the unit's manager, told the hearing at Teesside Coroner's Court that she was shocked Miss Richards tried to take her life.

She said the teenager was beginning to look forward to life and was making plans for Bonfire Night and Christmas.

The jury heard Miss Richards was also starting to develop closer ties with her family and had just been on an unsupervised outing with her mother, father and sister.

Pathologist Mark Egan told the hearing that Miss Richards died as a result of pressure on the neck due to hanging.

He said: "There was nothing to suggest anything other than the deceased was a willing participant."

The inquest continues.