I Nearly Took My Own Life Because of My Workplace, and Chloe Moffat's Story Made Me Tell Mine
by AJ Craig
I almost killed myself because of how I was treated at work. Now I’ve heard Chloe Moffat story, I’m speaking out.
When I was 21, I thought I had landed my dream job. I’d worked at the same company since I was 17 and had my eyes set on the most fashion forward role available to me. I worked hard to prepare for interviews, study fashion trends to a science, and put myself forward as the best candidate for the job. And it worked. I got it.
On my first day, I literally felt like I was stepping into Wonderland. I could see this amazing new future in front of me. A house for me and my partner, holidays we had always dreamed of going on but never been able to afford. All from a job I was completely enamoured with.
Cut to 3 months down the line, I’m waking up with red puffy eyes from crying myself to sleep, I’m shaking walking into the building from anxiety and I’m so frightened, I’m sweating through shirts.
My dream job had turned into a living, breathing nightmare that I couldn’t escape from. My superiors embarrassed and demeaned me, yelling at me and shoving their hands through lifts to parade me past my colleagues.
When I disclosed my Autism diagnosis, in hopes of getting better support, I was treated like I was not capable at my job and that I had made a mistake in trying to progress in the company.
My colleagues would regularly find me crying in staff toilets and in hidden areas. I would get home and go straight to bed, waking up only to cry or have a panic attack.
After about a year of this, I decided to go to HR. I was already having suicidal thoughts.
I was on sick leave due to my mental health and I finally felt brave enough to try and raise the issues I had been experiencing with the right people.
Through the months-long ordeal, I reached my lowest point. I had woken up at my partner’s house and decided that I couldn’t take it anymore. I walked to the kitchen and began looking for something, anything to make the pain stop. Tablets, kitchen knives. I just wanted to not be alive anymore. I needed everything to leave me, everything to stop.
I heard one of my partner’s flatmates getting up for work. And I remember calling 111 for help and being transferred to a crisis support team. I knew that if I continued in that job, it would kill me.
I later found out that no disciplinary action was given to my superiors after an enquiry, apart from a mental health awareness course.
The main perpetrator still works there and is highly respected in the company, despite several similar complaints being made against them. I didn’t want them sacked or to lose their position, I just wanted to know that this wouldn’t happen to someone else. And it did.
Unfortunately, my biggest learning takeaway from my ordeal is that HR is not there for the employees. It is a system in place to protect the company from damage, no matter how the behaviours of management affect those below them.
After reading about the suicide of 26 year old Treasury PA, Chloe Moffat, I felt compelled to not only share my story but to emphasise the issues with work culture in the UK today.
Chloe was described as someone who ‘loved her job’ and ‘took great pride in her work’. Chloe took her own life the day after a disciplinary hearing about an anonymous complaint. She was not allowed to be accompanied in the meeting and was instructed not to talk to colleagues about the contents of the meeting.
As the inquest into Chloe’s death continues, her mother, Anne Moffat, said outside of the coroner’s court; “Our hope is that lessons will be learned. The risks must be recognised so no other family will experience a loss like this.”
Although I have lived experience as personal evidence, it is clear that the pressure of work in the UK is becoming a widespread issue.
With the cost of living crisis looming over all aspects of UK life, it’s no wonder the concept of losing your job results in catastrophic consequences. It evokes worries of subsequently being unable to afford rent or essentials, worries that can drive a person to consider ending their own life.
According to ADP’s People at Work 2025 Report, nearly 60% of workers in the UK live paycheque to paycheque and, according to money.co.uk, one in six adults living in the UK have no funds in savings.
Work related stress can easily contribute to an ouroboros - like structure in the decline of household income, lateness of bills and poor work performance which then exacerbates or creates new mental illness. This cycle seems inescapable for many workers in the UK today.
As of writing, The Treasury has announced that it will change disciplinary processes following Chloe Moffat’s death.
If you have been affected by any of the material in this article, please use the links below to access support and well-being help:
Edited by Emily Duff
I'm glad you're still here
this is so important! proud of you for sharing your story 🫶🏻