The investigation into the tragic deaths revealed that authorities missed key opportunities to support Shirley Nunn, and had she received the right help, this heartbreak could have been avoided. It was clear that in the weeks leading up to her death, Shirley was struggling emotionally and was incredibly vulnerable.
”Always prioritized his needs”
Because she didn’t get the support she desperately needed, it seemed like she felt forced to take matters into her own hands when it came to her son’s future.
”[Ms. Nunn] had cared for and loved her son throughout his life and without question had always prioritized his needs. We can only assume she felt there was no other option or alternative for [Steven’s] ongoing care and support needs and took what must have been the very difficult decision which resulted in their deaths.”
This tragic story raises uncomfortable but necessary questions about how we support those facing unimaginable challenges.
Shirley Nunn’s unwavering love for her son led to a heartbreaking decision, but was it the system’s failure that pushed her to this point? Should we be doing more to provide mental health support for caregivers?
How much responsibility do we, as a society, bear in ensuring people like Shirley don’t feel like they have no other option? Share your thoughts — could this tragedy have been prevented with the right care, or is there more we can do to help families in need?
