My life changed in an unimaginable way in March 2023. While I was on maternity leave with our third child, my husband — who was also a dentist — took his own life. It was a devastating and life-altering moment.

At the time, I had never heard of the BDA Benevolent Fund. But in the days and weeks that followed, many colleagues from the dental community reached out to me with kindness and compassion, encouraging me to contact the charity for financial support while I tried to keep our family afloat until pension payments came through. Their encouragement gave me the strength to make that call — a decision that made a huge difference during an incredibly difficult time.

From the moment I reached out, the BDA Benevolent Fund team was compassionate, understanding, and supportive. The online application process was simple and the paperwork required was manageable — even through the fog of grief, I was able to complete it. The charity offered to cover our mortgage payments for three months, which was an immense relief. That timely support gave me vital breathing space and allowed me to focus on my children and our emotional wellbeing without the added stress of immediate financial pressure. As other funds fell into place, I in fact only needed one month’s assistance from the Benevolent Fund in the end, so cancelled the two additional months that had been offered.

I have not returned to work yet as I need to ensure my children feel secure and cared for as they adjusted to a world that had been completely turned upside down.

The BDA Benevolent Fund offers far more than financial assistance. There is a range of wellbeing support available, including access to counselling services and financial budgeting tools. Although I did not use these resources at the time, I now know they are there if I ever need them.

One piece of advice I would share with others is to make use of the free will-writing service offered through the BDA Benevolent Fund. We had not made a will, and in circumstances like ours, that added unnecessary complications at an already overwhelming time.

The support I received from the BDA Benevolent Fund helped me navigate the most challenging period of my life. It offered not only financial stability but also a sense of compassion and community that I will always be grateful for.