The son of a much-loved Glasgow woman who died following a battle with mental health has urged others to 'speak up and seek help' if they're struggling.
Melanie Rafferty tragically passed away on November 4 leaving behind her three sons.
The 50-year-old has been hailed as the "best mum ever" by her boys Liam, 17, Owen, 21, and Daniel, 23.
We previously told how the brothers had been torn apart following the death and are currently living separately with relatives.
A fundraiser has been launched to help get them back together under one roof as the trio are too traumatised to return to their family home in Knightswood.
Owen told the Daily Record: "My mum was battling mental health and things just got too much for her.
"We're in Motherwell just now and my big brother is staying with my gran, so we're dotted all over the place.
"When something like this happens you just want your own house, you want your own home."
The GoFundMe page, which was launched by Owen's friend Daniel James, has already coined in over £10,500 to help the family pay for funeral costs and get them back on their feet.
The three brothers, who all work for their uncle in the construction trade, say they have been overwhelmed by the support.
Owen said: "I didn't know anything about these pages. My mate Danny started one up and it's gone nuts.
"I've not even got the words to describe how much that will help.
"We've been so shocked. There's folk in there that I don't even know that are putting copious amounts of money in for us.
"Right at this moment I don't care about money, but I know it will put us in a much better place in these coming months.
"There's no stress about money for the funeral or anything now."
Owen and his brothers hope they will be able to use what money is leftover from the funeral to get a place together, back in Glasgow.
He said: "Me and my little brother stayed with my mum and my big brother stayed with my gran - but there was just a three minute drive between us and we saw each other every day.
"We are just taking a day at a time just now, but if we've got money we would like to get a place for all three of us to stay back in Glasgow."
Following her sudden death, Owen has hailed his mum Melanie, who worked in the Mitchell Library in Glasgow for over 30 years, as "his hero".
He's urging anyone struggling with mental health, or anyone who knows someone who is struggling, to never leave it too late before speaking out.
Owen said: "My mum was my hero. She brought me and my brothers up without my dad being there. She did everything herself. She got us everything we wanted, she never done us an injustice.
"Even when she was going through all her stuff she was there for us. She was just the best mum ever. "
He added: "Don't leave it too late to speak up. Don't let it build up. Please seek help."
To donate to the fundraiser for Daniel, Owen and Liam visit here.
