She told TalkSPORT if the “entire rug of his cricketing career had not been pulled from under him so completely…it is really clear to me that he would still be alive, so it would have made all the difference”.
She added: “It is hindsight and no one has got a crystal ball but it was just too much – the cliff, the whole mental breakdown of ‘I am no longer in that family’.
“If he had had just a little bit of the support framework there to lean on a bit to just transition a bit more, it would have made all the difference.”
Mrs Thorpe said remote support offered was “woeful” and did not go far enough.
“As he went through these sessions, it was clear that he wasn’t coping. He was getting worse,” she added.
“We really did ask for help. I knew he needed more help than that and it wasn’t forthcoming.”
An ECB spokesperson said: “Graham was not only one of England’s greatest cricketers, but also a deeply admired and much loved person.
“His loss has been felt deeply across the cricketing community and far beyond and our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with his wife Amanda, his children and all those who loved him.
“Graham’s passing is a heart-breaking reminder of the challenges many face with mental health. His death was examined by a coroner. The inquest was held earlier this year with full support from the ECB.
“We have met with Amanda to discuss her concerns and have been in regular contact with her and the wider family.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at BBC Action Line.
