Melbourne dad, 36, dies by suicide amid cost-of-living stress

A Melbourne man has died by suicide after struggling in silence with “financial stress” – leaving behind is fiancee and their 15-month old baby.

A young mum has revealed how her life has been “turned upside down” after the tragic loss of her fiance who recently died by suicide while struggling with cost-of-living pressures.

Rachel Keily, 33, said her partner of 7 years, Matt Worrall, lived with mental health challenges.

But after silently battling with “financial stress”, Mr Worrall took his own life on April 2, 2025, leaving behind his devastated partner and their 15-month-old son Henry.

In the months before his sudden death, the 36-year-old service locator had not shown any “signs” that he was unwell, Ms Keily said, explaining that the doting dad was still eating and sleeping and had kept up his routine of going to work and the gym each day.

Rachel Keily’s life was ‘turned upside down’ when her fiance Matt Worrall took his own life on April 2. Picture: Supplied

“When he had been unwell in the past, there had been signs, but coming up to this it didn’t mimic that, it didn’t look like that,” the grieving mum-of-one told news.com.au.

“He seemed, if anything, a bit stressed about finances because of the cost-of-living, but he told me he was fine, he was still going to work, doing everything as normal.

“We’d been talking about the weekend coming up, as we were going to go camping at Easter. But now everything has changed.”

The loss of her partner has left Ms Keily to care for son Henry alone as well as the burden of looking after their joint financial responsibilities.

She said the salary she earns from her 4-day-a-week admin job isn’t enough to cover the $4300 mortgage repayment on their Melbourne home, located about an hour north of the city.

“I can’t own this house anymore, I cannot afford the mortgage on my own at all, so it’s a huge financial strain,” she shared.

“When we moved into the house three years ago, the repayment was $2500, so it has almost doubled.

“Things were tight when there was two of us, it feels impossible now.”

The dad, 36, was struggling with his mental health as cost of living pressures soared. Picture: Supplied

According to the latest lending indicators from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the average mortgage size for owner-occupier dwellings is $642,121 as of September 2024. Compared to the same month last year, the average mortgage size has increased by $43,254 or 7.2 per cent.

This means the average monthly mortgage repayment is around $3863, though it varies from state to state.

Renters are not faring better, with the median national rental price soaring above $600-per-week, and according to financial comparison website Finder, a staggering 42 per cent of Aussies are living paycheck to paycheck.

Following Mr Worrall’s death, friends and family have rallied to help support the devastated family through the financial hardship, with a GoFundMe page raising over $40,000 to assist with expenses.

Ms Keily said she’s been left to financially burdened in the aftermath of the tragedy. Picture: Supplied

A GoFundMe page has helped give her some ‘breathing space’ as she adjusts to life without her fiance. Picture: Supplied

‘Henry has lost his dad at such a young age, it’s unimaginable.’ Picture: Supplied

“I hadn’t even considered creating a fundraiser, I assumed I’d have to move out, but when I posted in a local community group asking for realtor resources people came together to help,” Ms Keily said.

“It never occurred to me, and I certainly didn’t imagine we’d raise so much. It’s given me some breathing space in a very difficult time.

“I know Henry and I can’t stay in our home forever, we can’t afford it, but to be able to buy some time so we can grieve and process what has happened. I’m so grateful.”

As the family prepare to say goodbye to the loving partner and father, Ms Keily paid tribute to her late-fiance, and called on others to be vigilant for those suffering in silence.

“Henry has lost his dad at such a young age, it’s unimaginable,” she said.

“Matt was such a present person in the family, he did all of our cooking, he wasn’t a regular kind of dad who takes a step back, he was very involved.

“He didn’t bat an eyelid at doing something to make your life easier.”

She added: “Losing him has turned our lives upside down. I don’t understand, I don’t know what our future looks like anymore, every dream we had as a family has disappeared.

“I hope Matt’s death can help raise awareness about suicide prevention, I just wish we could have helped, that he spoke up.”