A YOUNG talented rapper struggling with alcohol addiction and mental health took his own life, an inquest heard.

Jake Humm from Brighton, otherwise known as “Resilient Jay” when MCing, hanged himself at the end of August last year.

The 22-year-old had sung in a session with well-known Uckfield born singer-songwriter Rory Charles Graham, more popularly known as Rag ‘n’ Bone Man.

Mr Humm was living in youth charity YMCA accommodation in Brighton and was receiving help from the group’s staff and Pavilions Drug and Alcohol Services in Richmond Road.

YMCA staff grew concerned having not heard from the young man for a couple of days and called the police. They who found him hanged in his flat in Bedford Square on August 31.

The ambulance were called and they pronounced Mr Humm dead at the scene.

It was clear from an external examination that the had been dead for at least 48 hours, the inquest heard.

Suicidal thoughts

Mr Humm was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and suffered with a binge drinking problem from a young age. He was known to have expressed suicidal thoughts.

In 2016 he attended an in-patient detox programme with Pavilions Drug and Alcohol Services.

He managed to abstain from drinking alcohol for more than a year until last summer when he relapsed.

His father, Julian, and YMCA support worker, Marcus White, agreed that Mr Humm had relapsed after discovering one of his friends took their own life in April last year.

He had also seen a female friend of his attempt suicide by overdosing in early August last year.

His father said these interactions with suicide would have brought back memories from when Mr Humm’s step-sister hanged herself a few years ago, and triggered his relapse.

Brighton and Hove coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said: “This would have been history repeating itself for him.

“This instability would have played a huge part. It’s very hard to cope with everything and your own struggles when you’re low.

“From the evidence I’ve heard it sounds like his mood was very up and down.”

His care co-ordinator at Pavilions Drug and Alcohol Services, Paula Hinks, said he started drinking high-end spirits when he relapsed.

She told the court he suddenly seemed to enjoy drinking and had no intention of giving up during an appointment in August last year.

Ms Hamilton-Deeley said: “This was an impulsive act and I can confirm that Mr Humm took his own life. He obviously had the support around him.

“I think this is a huge waste of a young life. My condolences go out to his family and those who cared and looked after him.”

Tributes

Mr Humm’s father said: “He was such a talented rapper. I loved him. We had a really strong bond.

“I was a single father most of my life and even though we didn’t live together, we had such a strong relationship. We were so close I think if we lived together we would probably just bicker.”

He said his son used to love fishing for carp together and always seemed to be in a more positive mood when he was outdoors.

He said: “I want to thank everyone who supported him and did all they could to look after him.”