Very sad story about ex-serviceman and his wife

[hiddenhome]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059238/Army-veteran-Mark-Mullins-wife-Helen-driven-suicide-poverty.html

ILoveTIFFANY - why is it so important to you to prove this couple where people people 'not to be approved of'? I'm finding your wilful misunderstanding quite distasteful.

'Well it implies he was discharged. Alcohol issues.'

So what? He wasn't receiving enough to live. It says he had lots of meeting trying to get benefits etc.

Yes, it is important to the Daily Mail, because a person who served his country, whether he had alcohol problems or not, was not helped enough so that he and his wife apparently committed suicide.

ILoveTIFFANY, do you work in social services?

Such a sad story. That poor girl who was taken from her mother and can now never go back :(.

RIP to both of them.

Why does it matter why he left the Army.

He and his wife were left in limbo which caused them both to feel that there was no other way out but suicide. Thats sad however it came about, especially if the couple were passed from pillar to post.

From the report, it sounds terrible. It sounds like they tried to access help but were at their wits' end because not enough help was forthcoming.

'cracks in the system'

sounds like a chasm. Isn't the system supposed to identify vulnerable people with MH issues?

It's not a 'crack in the system' when people have to kill themselves rather than continue to starve. The welfare system doesn't serve the people they should be serving.

I think KatharineClifton is right. I doubt that this is the only case where people are not given adequate help.

Everyday there are reports of vulnerable and elderly people being treated badly in hospitals etc. They are not one-off occurrences.

'But it also says they went into hiding'

He loved her and feared that she would be sectioned by the state. Who listened to his calls for help? Who had compassion for him and his wife?

Trying to think of articulate stuff to add, but KatharineClifton is already saying I want to ? just better!

'people who kill themselves are ill'

I think that is too easy a cop-out for the system. Blame it on the people's mental health. From the report he had had many meetings seeking help. If the door is shut, eventually people lose hope. He doesn't sound like he was ill.

'He said: 'I think the system is very unkind. We have lost count of how many appeals we have had, we've got reams of paperwork and had help from the Citizens Advice Bureau and independent advocates.
'We've had to fight tooth and nail every step of the way to get benefits.'

I don't understand. Who are you talking about?

I think they feared the authorities because she'd already lost her daughter to them

Once bitten, twice shy.

Sorry, mjn, I understand you now. I thought you were talking about the newspaper article, but I see now you mean your children and ex MIL.

Thanks Tianc.

mjin - I'm sorry for what happened to your exMIL and the friend's father. I'm not sure 'baddies in their head' is a very good explanation, but with children things have to be explained at their level of understanding. Claig is talking to and about adults who really should have a much higher level of understanding. But the hate speech against welfare, from politicians/media has been such a comprehensive campaign for such a long time it is sometimes difficult to see the wood for the trees so to speak.

how awful
sadly there will be a lot more stories like this.

x posted with claig.

Agree, hiddenhome.

Yes, I read that the dd was taken into care ( said she is now with family) as she was acting more as a carer to her mother rather than other way round.