A CONFERENCE aiming to combat depression will be held in memory of Newport-born journalist and broadcaster Huw Weekes.

Mr Weekes, 43, (pictured) was found dead in January on Boverton Beach near his home in Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan.

An inquest in Cardiff heard that father-of-three Mr Weekes had been suffering from depression for three months.

His brother Gareth said after the hearing: "His family and friends were desperately worried and we did our best to help him through, but none of us was aware of how ill he really was.

"The family always believed that Huw's death was most probably an accident which occurred when he was in a confused state of mind."

A police officer told the inquest he had been found in hiking gear and with an ordnance survey map of the area in his rucksack.

The cause of death was given as drowning due to a high level of the tranquiliser Temazepam in his bloodstream.

Cardiff and Vale coroner Dr Lawrence Addicott recorded a verdict of death by misadventure, saying Mr Weekes' reactions had been altered by the drug in his system and he became immersed in sea water.

The conference in his memory will be addressed by Jane Hutt AM, Minister of Health at the National Assembly for Wales, and will take place on Tuesday, October 30 at City Hall in Cardiff.

The theme of the conference is the battle to fight the stigma of depression as Dr Chris Manning, chairman of the event and of Depression Alliance, the leading UK charity for people suffering from the condition, explained.

"Stigma leaves people feeling isolated and unable to talk about their problems. "This is why so few people seek medical help until they get too ill. "In these cases people will often lose their jobs, and may lose their homes and families as well.

"In the worst cases people may commit suicide because they cannot talk about their problems."

Depression Alliance says that one in four people will be affected by mental health problems at some time in their lives and claims that one in ten are affected now. Only half of these people seek medical help.

The conference is supported by Mr Weekes' family who provided funds to stage it and by HTV who are holding a reception for delegates at the end of the day. For further information contact Claire Walters or Tim Watkins from Depression Alliance Cymru on (029) 20 692 891 or 07890 831998.