A widower has called on the federal government to inject more money into mental health care and claims that her husband would still be alive if he had received more support.
Nathan O'Toole, 51, put an end to his life after a long fight against depression, caused by a tragedy of which he witnessed thirteen years ago and that he never recovered again.
His tragic death on January 8 only came a week after he and his wife Karen Swan celebrated their eleventh wedding anniversary.
Mrs. Swan, from Hill Top in the southern highlands of NSW, believes that her husband would still be here with her and their two daughters if he had received more help.
“I really think he would have been saved with more support,” the 52-year-old Friday told Daily Mail Australia.
'There is not enough help in the field of mental health care in Australia, especially for men. There must be more support.
'How much money does our government spend on other matters? Our money really has to end up in places where it is of vital importance. “
O'Toole's fight against depression started more than ten years ago under the most tragic circumstances when he made a discovery that brought him to despair.
Karen and Nathan were married for eleven years before he lost his fight against depression
The depression of Nathan O'Toole started thirteen years ago under the most tragic conditions
“This is the seventh male suicide that has influenced our lives and his identical twin brother committed suicide thirteen years ago and he found him,” said Mrs. Swan.
“He has never recovered spiritually.”
Since the discovery that his twin brother was dead, Mr. O'Toole, unlike many men, tried to seek help, but he was still confronted with a constant fight against his depression.
In 2022, more than 3,200 Australians died due to suicide and Mrs. Swan was of the opinion that mental health care with limited resources can only do so much.
'He tried to get help countless times and he had one suicide attempt in which he was placed in a psychiatric department of a public hospital and they made him sober, interviewed him and sent him home with the announcement that nothing is wrong with him Was, “said Mrs. Swan. said.
'I think something is wrong if you deliberately try to take an overdose.
'The system is just so overloaded and the support is simply not for everyone who needs it. We spent $ 16,000 on a private health care institution for him, but he was still hunting for the demons. “
Mr. O'Toole leaves his wife and two daughters Marlee, 30, and Brodie, 19, behind, who understandably struggle with the huge loss.
Mr O'Toole (right) leaves his wife (second from the left) and two daughters Marlee, 30 (left) and Brodie, 19, (second from the right), who are understandably difficult
“We are faltering, absolutely faltering. My daughters are really broken, “said Mrs. Swan.
“No family deserves to experience this.”
Family and friends were present on Thursday at Mr O'Toole's funeral and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family pay the costs.
They had no insurance or savings to pay the funeral, but an anonymous donor had deposited $ 2,200 for charity.
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