Yoeri van Haaften’s partner, Annemarie Litjens, died in April 2025 after struggling with depression. She was 34 and left behind farewell letters describing her increasingly difficult mental state and her concerns about being a bad mother to their two young children. Van Haaften found her dead in a hotel room, where a note instructed housekeeping to call the police.

Van Haaften wrote a book about their lives and her death, partly to preserve the story for their children and to process what happened. The book, titled “Tell Our Children How Much I Love Them,” is due to appear on Thursday. He said the letters showed a contrast between his view of their life and Litjens’ experience, and he hopes the book will make depression and suicidal thoughts easier to discuss. He said he and the children are gradually rebuilding their lives, although grief remains and small setbacks can still feel overwhelming.