Scots soldier died after telling wife army failed to help him 'deal with emotions'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A soldier told his wife the army doesn't teach you how to "deal" with your emotions just days before he was found dead, an inquest heard.Nicki Hart, 33, who had a history of mental health problems, passed away from hanging at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, in February 2022.Northallerton Coroners Court heard on the first day of his inquest how he had served with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland since his late teens.But jurors were told following a tour to Afghanistan in 2020, he began to drink heavily, which took its toll on his relationship with his wife Sara Hart, 38.Nicki was referred to mental health services, but after these meetings, Sara said the "sociable" father was left to "ponder" his thoughts alone at the barracks.And four days before his death on February 5, 2022, Nicki sent her a heartbreaking text saying he felt the Army had not prepared him to deal with his feelings.Coroner Jonathan Leach summarised the message submitted in evidence, which said: "I'm sorry I let you down, didn't just let you down but myself as well."There are issues that I've had to live with I'm not proud of.

Things that I honestly can't put into words. I've been in autopilot for so long as I can't remember."Only now seeing these doctors are things beginning to hurt again, feelings that I have pushed away, pushed back for so f****ing long."The army always teaches you to suppress all your feelings and emotions until the battle is won but never teaches you how to deal with them coming forward again."A pathologist who submitted evidence to the hearing said Nicki's cause of death was '1A hanging' after "pressure marks" were discovered around his neck.A toxicology report also found Nicki had 173mg of alcohol per 100