A FAMILY has paid tribute to a “great nanna” who took her own life because she could no longer cope with the trauma of being attacked and the loss of her husband.

Sue Salmon was forced to give up her job as a social worker with Cumbria County Council after she was attacked by a client in 2006.

Then in 2009 she suffered the tragic loss of her husband Michael, a former shipyard director, after he had a cardiac arrest.

In the years which followed, in which she twice attempted to kill herself and was admitted to a mental health unit on four occasions, her two children supported their mum in seeking help.

But in December last year Mrs Salmon’s “physical and emotional pain” became too much for her to bear and she was found hanged at her home in Gleaston.

She had left a number of notes for her family including one on the front door which said: “Sorry, I love you, forgive me.”

Mrs Salmon had believed she suffered from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in which symptoms of mental illness worsen during winter.

At an inquest at Barrow Town Hall, assistant coroner Paul O’Donnell asked Mrs Salmon’s son if he believed her suicide taking place on December 21 corresponded with this being the “shortest and darkest day of the year”.

“Yes definitely,” Mr Salmon replied.

“She was definitely worse during the winter.”

Mr Salmon described his mum, who was 63, as a “great nanna”.

Mrs Salmon’s daughter Jennifer Peters said her mum became “frightened to engage” with mental health services after a traumatic time at a mental health unit in 2016.

“The police became involved because allegations were made of abuse from staff,” Mrs Peters said.

“That was the tragedy for me; to go from someone who would pick up the phone and ring the crisis team to then mistrust mental health professionals after that. And I understand why she felt that way.

“When she was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder the label disenfranchised her.

“She would say ‘once they’ve bipolared you you’ve had it’.”

The last time Mrs Peters saw her mum was two days before she died when Mrs Salmon visited her in Manchester to watch her grandson in his nativity play.

“The grandchildren adored her; she was a very fun nanna,” Mrs Peters added.

Mr O’Donnell praised Mrs Salmon’s children for the support they showed her during her battle with her mental health issues.

He chose to read out one of the notes she had left which said: “I am in so much physical and emotional pain constantly. I have tried to mask it until it goes away and no one, not even Paul and Jennifer, could have done more. You are wonderful and I love you.”

Mr O’Donnell recorded a verdict of suicide.

The Samaritans has a 24-hour free helpline on 116123.