Workplace 'had role in suicide' of teenager Alec Meikle, inquest hears A TEENAGE apprentice who committed suicide was diagnosed with a "major depressive illness" and his workplace was seen as a major contributing factor to his condition, an inquest has heard. Alec Meikle, 17, hanged himself in October 2008 after months of alleged bullying at his workplace, Downer EDI - a rail engineering company based at Bathurst in the state's Central West. Alec was allegedly called a "f...ing useless c..." on a daily basis, set on fire, burnt with a blow torch and was threatened that he would be raped with a steel dildo if he made too many mistakes. Glebe Coroners court is investigating what role the alleged bullying played in his death. Yesterday psychologist Belinda Harris told the inquest she diagnosed Alec with a major depressive illness and that he'd had a "single episode" which was "mild." When asked if Alec's work environment " was a substantial contributing factor" to his distress, Ms Harris told the inquest "yes, that is correct." The inquest heard Alec previously had issues with being bullied when he was at school, including at St Stanislaus and West Bathurst Primary School. This would have contributed to Alec having a pre-existing anxiety condition which Ms Harris told the inquest would have "played a minor role in the development of his depressive disorder." Ms Harris told the inquest the school bullying was "certainly secondary to his workplace issues" in causing his depression. Alec left Downer in May 2008 and saw Ms Harris on June 14, 2008. She noted he was experiencing disrupted sleep, a depressed mood, a loss of pleasure in activities he previously enjoyed, increased aggression and suicidal thoughts. There were not enough symptoms to warrant a "clinical diagnosis," the inquest heard. In May 2008, Alec had thoughts of "jumping under a train," the inquest heard. Ms Harris told the inquest Alec's psychological improved when he left Downer. Alec's then supervisor, Colin Wiggins, gave evidence at the inquest and denied calling him a "f***ing useless c***." Ms Harris told the inquest: "It was the verbal abuse (Alec) found most distressing." She also found Alec had a "pre-existing disposition to take things personally which would have made him more vulnerable ...." Alec made an initial attempt to kill himself in August 2008, the inquest heard. He later spent time in his native NZ where he received psychological treatment and his family thought he was improving mentally. On October 30, 2008 Alec's aunt and cousin arrived home to find he had taken his life.