Blue Mountains mother’s mental health battled exposed

The mother of two boys found dead in the Blue Mountains had battled long-term postnatal depression, it has been reported.

Trish Smith was found by her former partner Nick Smith with self-inflicted injuries next to their sons Russell, 11, and Ben, nine, on Tuesday.

She was arrested when she arrived at hospital for treatment. No charges have been laid.

It can now be revealed that Ms Smith was locked in a years-long legal battle with her former employer regarding her mental health issues.

Ms Smith had been employed by NSW’s Greater Sydney Local Land Services department since 2005 but was let go in January 2020 because she was deemed unfit to work by her employer.

She fought the decision and represented herself in a case lodged with the Industrial Relations Commission in March 2022, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Case documents stated that Ms Smith had a history of post-natal anxiety, depression, anxiety and adjustment disorder.

During her work struggles two of her managers requested that she be managed by someone else as they had become “overwhelmed” by the amount of “time it took to manage her and the intensity with which she responded to their communications with her”.

Commissioner Chris Muir said: “Her responses placed unreasonable and exceptional burdens on her colleagues.”

Psychologists that submitted independent assessments at the time said Ms Smith developed anxiety following the birth of both of her sons.

When she returned to work after maternity leave in 2016 her mental health had worsened.

She cried on the way to work, had at least three panic attacks, developed insomnia and was “teary all the time, leaving work often”.

Ms Smith dropped down to two days a week after being hospitalised for a mental health condition at some point between 2017 and 2019.

Commissioner Muir dismissed her application to be reinstated at work in November 2023 but in March this year she applied for leave to appeal, which was refused.

In May she applied for an extension of time to appeal, which was again refused.

A Local Land Services spokesperson said they weren’t able to comment on current or former staff due to privacy concerns.

On Thursday, the boys’ father Mr Smith made a statement revealing his “unimaginable pain and distress” after finding both sons dead.

It is understood the father had access to the home where they were discovered but did not live at the property.

“The loss of our two beautiful boys has caused unimaginable pain and distress,” he said.

“Russell and Ben were happy, funny, outgoing boys, and were very much loved by their family and friends.

“Like other boys their age, they loved sports, soccer, the Penrith Panthers, fishing, books, music, spending time with their friends and Max their pup.”

Mr Smith said the shocking nature in which his sons died had been difficult to comprehend.

“We cannot understand how our boys have been taken this way and we appreciate the kindness and compassion shown by the community,” he said.

“We also ask the media respects our need for privacy at this time and give us the time and space we need to grieve.”

Police described the scene at the Faulconbridge home as “tragic” on Tuesday afternoon, telling reporters officers were keeping an open mind in investigating the circumstances of the boys’ deaths.

“It is early stages and (we’re) not prepared to speculate on that (motive) at this stage,” Superintendent John Nelson said.

“This is about as tragic as it gets. (Community members) are genuinely shocked.”