In the wake of her own mental health struggles, Joy Burgess committed her days to learning how to help other people suffering in the same way.
Using first-hand knowledge of her own difficulties, Joy took courses, gained certifications, and spent time learning how to relieve the pain of people just like her.
But, tragically, it was these same mental health concerns that would prove too strong and eventually claim her life, says her family.
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Emotional tributes are now being paid to the beloved mother and grandmother who fell from a bridge over the motorway.
Joy, who grew up in Hattersley before moving to Newton in Tameside, died on the M60 on June 9.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 10.30am amid concerns for the welfare of a woman.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics and police, the 56-year-old was pronounced dead.
Joy leaves behind her three sons and two daughters, six much-loved grandchildren, along with a host of close friends.
They are now sharing fond memories of Joy in the wake of her death.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , Joy’s son David Burgess told of how his mum lit up their lives: “My mum was an all-around loving woman. She was just so giving.
“She would hide her feelings in front of everybody, a lot of the time, just to make other people happy and to make them smile.
“My mum would go out of her way for anybody, she’d do anything for anybody. She’d go without just to make sure somebody else had something. She was selfless at every point.”
Joy had struggled with mental health concerns, says her son, but made efforts to use her first-hand knowledge to help others suffering psychologically.
‘For many years’, she took courses to learn more about mental health.
“My mum had quite a lot of mental health issues, she’d been to lots of different types of groups, counselling, therapy," continued David.
“But she really, really did try to get herself in a position where she would have been able to help somebody who was feeling that way.
“She did courses, got certificates, went on trips and spent a lot of time with people in difficult states of mind.
“It’s alright to say you can help people who have these kinds of issues, but when you’ve got first-hand experience I suggest it can go a lot further.
“You do, to a degree, understand what they’re going through. You understand certain techniques that you do yourself to get through that. It’s good to share that with other people.
“Even if it was just to help one person, if she could achieve that, she would have been happy.
“Over the last few years, she really tried her hardest to get in that position to help.”
Close friend Alison Robinson had known Joy for more than three decades.
The pair had planned to visit Alison’s mother in Rhyl together in the coming days when she received the devastating news that Joy had died.
“We met each other as teenagers, I was about 15,” said Alison.
“She lived in Hattersley and I lived in Hyde at the time.
“Life takes its paths - Joy had her kids and I had mine. We would phone each other and meet up in Ashton.
“What I’m going to remember is that smile, she was a bundle of laughs. Joy was an absolutely genuine, sincere person. She had a heart of gold.
“You can never prepare yourself for that news, it’s definitely not something that you think about. I was absolutely gobsmacked, I was calling the people who told me liars.
“As a group of friends, none of us were ready for this.
“Joy had mental health issues all her life, more or less. She had her demons but she used to rise above them.
“Joy had done a lot of courses with the hope that eventually, one day, she’d be able to help other people with mental health issues.
“She wanted to help everybody. Joy would have given you her last £5 if you’d have asked her to. I just want to remember her smile.”
Joy’s loved ones say they have been left wondering what they can do to remember her life - as well as raise awareness in the wake of the unfathomable loss.
They have resolved to pick up the mantle from Joy - fundraising in Joy’s name and helping to educate others around mental health.
“A lot of people in Hattersley were asking ‘what can we do?’” continued Alison.
“We’re going to wait until after Joy’s funeral to help her children if they need anything. If not, we’re thinking of building a memorial bench somewhere for her.
“With what’s left over, as much as we can, we want to donate it to a mental health charity in Joy’s memory. We’d also like to raise some money for awareness around mental health.”
David added: “There’s not enough help out there for anyone suffering with their mental health. People get pushed aside day-by-day.
“With people suffering like that, often you can never understand what they’re going through on any particular day.
“Someone could say something trivial or negative to you one day and you’d brush it off. The next day, if you’re in a low place mentally, it could have a drastic effect on your life. In their state of mind, it could be devastating.
“People are not aware of these things if they’ve not lived with it themselves, or been around someone with it.
“The lockdown, in particular, has also had a massive impact on everybody no matter what background you’ve got - how happy you are, how good your job is, how great your family is.
“For people with mental health concerns, the tiniest thing can set them off. The fact you’re locked down removes all structure and they’ve had to struggle in silence on their own - you can’t go to meetings and groups. Something that you can look forward to.
“When that was stripped away from people like my mum, it had a big effect.”
Joy’s son is urging people to be kind, acknowledging that you never know the internal battles people may be going through: “I’d like to see more signs on bridges that can direct people to suicide helplines, or even some kind of slogan or quote. Something on every bridge in the area - even worldwide - I think it’s a good thing to do.
“If it saves one person, you help more people than you can probably ever know. All their family and friends.
“People need to be aware that people feel so bad that they have to take their own lives.
“You never know what people are going through. Everybody has their own problems. People react in different ways. It doesn’t cost anything to be nice to someone.
“It’s too late for me to do anything for my mum now, but I can at least help somebody else.”
Stockport Coroners' Court has confirmed it has received a file in relation to Joy's death ahead of an inquest to be opened in due course.
If you would like to donate to the fundraiser in memory of Joy, visit this page.
