Rose loved running half marathons. She had suggested that I should run a half marathon, so i’m planning on doing one in Exeter on February 12th, exactly a year since we lost her. I know that she would be proud of me for doing this, which has been helping me with my training.

Rose learnt to run before she could walk, when she was a baby, she would stand up and run as fast as she could until she fell over, and then do it again. She always put 100% into everything, sprinting through life and making the most of every opportunity. She achieved, saw and did so much in her short life.

We had so many happy family times and adventures together. We were privileged to love and be loved by Rose in our family for nearly 26 years. We love her and miss her so much, as we try to rebuild our family in its new shape with the memory of her shining bright in our midst.

Rose was one of the happiest and most positive people you could hope to meet, full of fun, love and laughter but also modest and very caring. She was one of those rare people whose presence would light up the room.  She filled her personal life socialising with and visiting friends and family who dearly loved her.

On February 12th 2016 working as a first year junior doctor in Torquay, she suddenly became overwhelmed with acute anxiety about the expectations, demands and responsibilities of her job. This broke her spirit and she tragically took her own life.

Exhaustion due to long hours, work related anxiety, despair at her future in medicine and the news of the imposition of the new contract on junior doctors (announced on February 11th) were definite contributors to this awful and final decision.

The hours that some junior doctors have to work are, in my opinion, terribly cruel and inhumane. Rose was working 12-14 hours a day for up to 12 days, often without breaks and staying late to get the work done.  Leaving little time to get home, sleep, eat and shower before the next day began. This type of existence is seen by many as a right of passage for young doctors and takes a terrible toll on them, their families and loved ones. Until this state of affairs changes significantly, more doctors will be mentally broken and leave the profession, the country or life itself. The importance of caring for those who work so hard to provide care for others seems so neglected. We have paid the ultimate price in the loss of our wonderful Rose.

Supporting Mind will hopefully help to prevent further tragedies. Support for people in the work place is needed so that they can recognise signs of acute anxiety in themselves and others, as well as address the underlying reasons that cause them. This is essential if the loss of other peoples loved ones is to be prevented.