A devastated mother has called for more mental health support for young men after her son took his own life after struggling with mental illness.

Robert Marney, 36, was hit by a train at Kelvedon level crossing less than a mile from his High Street home.

At an inquest at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court yesterday, area coroner for Essex, Caroline Beasley-Murray, concluded Mr Marney took his own life.

The talented artist suffered from psychosis and schizophrenia and had spent time in Braintree’s The Gables and Chelmsford’s Linden Centre and The Priory Hospital.

Speaking after the inquest, his mother, Brenda Francis, said she felt her son had been badly let down by mental health services.

“Robert wanted to live,” she said. “He had a trip planned to Amsterdam and was planning to move to Berlin.

“He had so much to live for but because of his illness and the fact he wasn’t getting help, he lost hope.

“What killed Robert was the lack of care in the community and mental health support.

“There needs to be changes for the sake of young men.”

Essex Police were called to the Kelvedon level crossing at around 5.30pm on February 13.

Paramedics attended and declared Mr Marney dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination was carried out at Colchester General Hospital and it was found Mr Marney died of multiple injuries.

British Transport Police conducted an investigation, including speaking to witnesses who spoke to Robert near the level crossing.

Sean Carroll, of British Transport Police, said: “One was driving home and saw Robert at the crossing.

“He noticed he was close and stopped to see him. Robert assured him he was OK.

“The witness called 101 but whilst on the phone heard the train crossing.”

No suspicious circumstances were found surrounding Mr Marney’s death.

Some alcohol was found in his system, along with traces of prescription medication to treat his illnesses.

Reaching a verdict of suicide, but also recording Mr Marney had been suffering from mental illnesses at the time of his death, Mrs Beasley-Murray said: “He was clearly gifted, I can see that and he clearly was much loved by members of his family.

“I would like to express my sympathies to you and hope we will be able to think back upon those good memories you have of him.”

A representative from Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust was at the inquest and said there was a mental health plan in place at the time of Mr Marney’s death.

She offered to meet with his family privately after the inquest.

Mrs Beasley-Murray said the family needed to know “lessons had been learnt and improvements had been made”.

Mr Marney was an accomplished artist and studied fine art and silk screen printing at Camberwell College of Arts.