Brave suicide charity mum needs help to pay for her own therapy
SON’S SHOCK DEATH SPARKED SUFFERING
Crowdfund drive set up for Laura
A MUM who set up a charity providing counselling for people at risk of suicide is having to crowdfund for her own therapy.
Laura Nolan was devastated when her son Joshua took his own life at the age of 22 nearly five years ago.
She set up the Joshua Nolan Foundation, raising funds to help vulnerable people get access to counselling.
But Laura herself needs specialist help.
A friend has set up a fundraising drive to pay for her to have therapy for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Ashley Peacock said Laura, from Edinburgh, has been “struggling”.
Rules mean Laura isn’t allowed to benefit from her own charity.
The GoFundMe page had last night raised £1405 of its £5000 target to provide 18 months of weekly counselling sessions for Laura.
The 42-year-old spends much of her time visiting schools, where she helps to raise awareness of mental health difficulties.
Joshua was diagnosed with depression at 16.
Laura was working in her beauty salon in August 2013 when police officers arrived to tell her he had been found dead in his flat in the Newington area of Edinburgh.
Ashley, 26, said: “Laura was put on a four-month waiting list for counselling after Josh died.
“Finally, she got to see a counsellor on the NHS but they weren’t trained in what she was going through.
“She scraped together money to see a traumatrained counsellor privately. She was having trouble leaving the house due to anxiety.
“The counselling lasted for a year or two, then she started feeling better. But PTSD is ongoing, so she would have days when it would arrive again.
“Hopefully, the GoFundMe campaign will be able to put something long-term in place for her.” ●To donate to Laura’s care, visit gofundme.com/laura-nolan-specialisttherapy.