Easing a burden for a mum during bereavement

Thank you for your understanding, your compassion, and the support you have shown me when I needed it most.

This mum lost her son to suicide on Christmas Day last year. They were a close family and had supported him through university. Following this, her husband had a breakdown, which has left them in debt and him needing full‑time care. The family are currently surviving on benefits that only cover their bills and they have been relying on credit for essentials. With no savings, and little income they arranged their son's burial payments but missed a council tax bill and their television licence due to stress and the extra costs of the funeral. The local Advocate posted a request for these two bills to release some of the pressure, and ease their burden at this difficult time. After their request was met, mum said:

Thank you so much for your support during this extremely difficult time. Losing my son to suicide on Christmas Day has been utterly devastating. We were a very close family, and I had supported him all the way through university, so the loss has been overwhelming. Not long after, my husband suffered a breakdown, which left us in debt and needing full‑time care. I am now surviving on benefits that barely covers my bills, and I’ve had to rely on credit for everyday essentials. With no savings, I did everything I could to arrange my son’s burial, but the stress and grief caused me to fall behind on payments like my council tax and television licence. It became so much for me to cope with that I needed urgent support from my GP. That is why your help means more to me than I can say. Thank you for your understanding, your compassion, and the support you have shown me when I needed it most.

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