The Wall Street Journal reports that 51-year-old Barry Fox, who worked as as research supervisor at Bear Stearns, jumped to his death last May, after learning that he would not be offered a job by JPMorgan following its acquisition of Bear.

Fox is said to have suffered from 'physical and mental disabilities for years', and is also believed to have been worried about his financial position. Being told that he would not be transitioned into JPMorgan is said to have been the last straw.

The newspaper quotes from an e-mail Fox sent to a close friend three weeks before his death, in which he said: 'I've been in my own world over the past month or so since Bear Stearns went under. I should know in a few days or a week or two whether I'll be going over to J.P.Morgan Chase. I have a chance but not a great chance - there are many applicants and few openings'.

On May 23rd, Fox was told that he was not being kept on, and that evening he took large concentrations of Valium and sleep aid Resoril, and subsequently jumped to his death from the balcony of his 29th-floor apartment. The Bergen County coroner has now ruled the death a suicide.

The news comes just a month or so after 44-year Joseph Luizzi, an independent futures trader, who traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, shot himself by firing a handgun into his mouth, after sustaining losses estimated at around $1m.

Finally in September, 45-year-old Karthik Rajaram, a California-based man who once made $1.2m on a London venture fund investment, killed himself and five members of his family, after falling on hard times and losing money on equity markets. Rajaram shot himself after killing his wife, mother-in-law and three sons (19, 12 and 7).

Our thoughts go out to the families of the deceased.

READER COMMENT

1. 'Tough as things are for many of us who work in the markets at the moment, these kind of things truly puts it all into perspective'.

2. 'As difficult as it is to read stuff like this, it's important to be aware that things like this occur. Many investment banking staff are working under conditions of extreme stress at the moment, and no-one wants it to turn into tragedy. There are warning signs, and we should all do our bit to help colleagues who are showing early signs of problems'.

3. 'The almighty dollar is a poor substitute for a life, and no one knows that better than the loved ones these souls left behind'.

4. 'Naked we come into this world, and naked we shall leave it. Family, friends, love - these are the things that are irreplaceable'.

5. 'I worked for the Samaritans for 3 years, and the one thing I learned was how good it is to talk to someone. I suspect that many financial professionals see it as a sign of weakness to talk. We need to show much more concern for our fellow workers'.

6. 'Why do these selfish cowards annihilate those closest to them when they decide to end their own lives ?'.

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