THE sister of a man who hung himself believes he was let down by the mental health services.

Debbie Adamson, of Edgehill Crescent, Leyland, said her brother Philip Adamson was 'crying out for help' before committing suicide on March 5 this year.

Shortly before his death, the 37-year-old, of Mead Avenue, Leyland, wrote a note which read: 'hospital put plaster on and kick out -- there is no help'.

Now the mother-of-two is demanding to know why her elder brother was not placed under a mental health supervision order. She believes if this had happened he might still be alive today.

According to Debbie, the father-of-two had suffered from bouts of depression for four years which got worse when their mother died two years ago. "Mum's death was a real shock to us all and Philip took it really badly," she said.

A month before he died, Philip, who was one of eight children and attended Worden High School, became a patient at Healey ward, a male ward for mental health patients based in Chorley Hospital.

"When I found out he was in hospital I called the ward and they said he was okay. He had been in there a week.

"I went to see him on that Saturday and he seemed fine but then he said: 'when I came in here I felt depressed but now I feel suicidal'."

A few days before he died Debbie said he seemed a lot better and told her he was going to set up home in Brighton where he had lived once before in happier times. She says he was eager to get home and prepare for the move.

On the Monday before his death, her brother asked permission to leave Healey ward. "He was let out and killed himself the day after," she said.

John Holland, service director of the Lancashire Care NHS Trust which covers Healey Ward, said: "We would like to offer our deepest condolences to Mr Adamson's family over his loss.

"Following Mr Adamson's death, a thorough investigation into the circumstances was carried out and his family were kept fully informed."

Mr Holland refused to divulge the outcome of the investigation.

He went on: "If there are any other issues which the family would wish to discuss, we would be more than happy to continue meeting with them."

However Debbie, who was registered with the health sevice as Philip's next-of-kin, says she was contacted by the Trust shortly after her brother's death, informing her an investigation was taking place, but has heard nothing since.

At an inquest held in Preston last week coroner Howard McCann recorded a verdict of suicide.

The inquest heard how unemployed Philip had slit his wrist, but the cause of death was hanging.