Melanie - Interview 21  

Melanie - Interview 21

Age at Interview: 45
Sex: Female
Background: Melanie is a barrister. She is a widow with 3 children. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Brief outline:In 2006 Melanie’s husband, Simon, took his own life while the “balance of his mind was disturbed.” He jumped to his death. Melanie and her three young children were devastated. They have found help via counselling, support groups and the internet

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Melanie made a new will soon after her husband died. She was worried about what might happen to her children if she were to die too.

 



I’ve made a fresh will since Simon died. I’ve named guardians, but that was something in the very early days that they [the children] were very worried about; the little one said to me, “What happens if you die Mummy? What happens if Grandma dies? What happens if all the grown-ups in the world die?”


You could really, you reassured him.


Well I was able to reassure them that they would go and live with some friends of the family. My parents are late 60s now and that they’re, you know three small boys and late 60s don’t really go together. But I worry what will happen if they die.


So you found guardians who would be prepared to look after them?


But they’ll never love them the way I love them.


Of course.


And particularly because our eldest child has special needs.


Mm.


What will happen to him?


Mm.

Bereavement due to suicide
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