Kaneez Akhter, 58, passed away in the Myra Shay area on May 3, 2021.
An inquest, held at Bradford Coroners’ Court, heard how the medical cause of her death was burns.
Now, Kaneez’s daughter, Safeena Khan, has contacted the Telegraph & Argus in a bid to further tackle the stigma surrounding mental health “in these very tough times we’re living in today”.
She also paid tribute to her late mother, describing her as “amazing” and sadly missed.
Safeena told the T&A: “I really want to raise awareness about mental health, especially among the Asian community.
“My mum suffered with her mental health – she really did struggle and, very sadly, took her own life.
“I want to get across the message that it’s OK not to feel OK – and it’s so important to talk.
“I know it’s tough, but there is help out there – there are so many wonderful services to support people.
“In the first instance, I’d advise people to contact their GP to speak about their situation.
“There are also many fantastic organisations locally and nationally, such as the Samaritans, which are there for people.”
According to the NHS, South Asian communities form the biggest ethnic minority group in the UK – and common mental health disorders are more prevalent in this population than in the general population.
However, people of South Asian heritage are less likely to seek or access support for mental health problems.
According to the charity Mind, research shows people from South Asian communities are more likely to mask mental health issues due to cultural stigmas.
Paying tribute to her mother, Safeena added: “She was amazing.
“She was my best friend.
“She was an amazing grandmother to my children.
“We all adored her and we miss her so much – she was such a lovely person.
“I miss her warmth and I wish she could be back here with us again.”
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year.
You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch