Her husband's mental health issues led to his detention under the Mental Health Act, but he was discharged back home in June 2023, exacerbating the situation.

In October 2022, Mrs. Sitch attempted suicide three times, resulting in her voluntary admission to a mental health facility where she was diagnosed with an 'Adjustment Disorder.'

On September 29, 2023, her husband's care coordinator alerted Essex County Council's adult social care services about concerns regarding his medication management.

During the inquest into Mrs. Sitch's death, the council admitted that these oversights were due to 'human error.'

The coroner, Sean Horstead, pointed out failures in the adult social care system, noting that three requests for assistance from Mrs. Sitch and her family were not adequately addressed.

After being discharged to community mental health care in February 2023, Mrs. Sitch's condition remained stable until late summer 2023, when her mental health began to decline.

Mrs. Sitch had been the primary caregiver for her husband, who suffered from significant physical and mental health issues for over a year, which took a toll on her own mental well-being.

By October 2023, Mrs. Sitch's daughter raised serious concerns about her mother's mental health, highlighting her previous suicide attempts and the urgent need for support.

In response to the coroner's report, Essex County Council expressed condolences and stated they take the findings seriously and will respond accordingly.

The coroner stated that had the council acted on the daughter's concerns, immediate action could have been taken within 24 to 48 hours, but no action was taken prior to Mrs. Sitch's death.

Just days before her suicide, Mrs. Sitch's husband was admitted to the hospital on November 7, 2023, with plans for discharge the following week.

Essex County Council is facing severe criticism for its inadequate care of Linda Sitch, a 75-year-old woman who tragically died by suicide in November 2023 while struggling to care for her elderly husband.