white female suicides 2019-202x

McKenzie Thompson, 14-year-old

On Monday, July 31,, 2023 14-year-old McKenzie Thompson died by suicide.

A local family is speaking out after their teenage daughter took her own life. They say bullying at school is to blame. They want to share their story to help others.

"She took her life so she didn't have to go back and now I'm never going to see her again," Tuttle said.

Caylee Mastin 15-year-old
August 16, 2007  -  March 14, 2023


Caylee, a 15-year-old native of Milford, Ohio, took her own life in March 2023. Her unexpected death has left the community in shock

Caylee was a fierce soccer player and a kind 15-year-old. She died by suicide in March.

Her mom says she was coping with depression and anxiety. It was something she was holding onto after her dad, Donny Mastin, died from cancer when she was 5 years old.

"It's been a really big struggle. It's impacted all of us in different ways. We're trying," Mastin said.

Jennifer Culver's daughter talked to Caylee daily.

"I'm just so thankful that my daughter got to meet here because she was like one of the purest kids. She had my daughter's back no matter what," Culver said.

Zoe Luffman, 18

Zoe Luffman: Girl, 18, took her own life on her first day back at university - as her final heartbreaking diary entries are revealed

A teenager's harrowing struggles with her mental health have been revealed in the diary she kept before ending her own life.

Zoe Louise Luffman, 18, was found dead in her dorm room at Lincoln University in the town of Lincoln, New Zealand, on July 18, 2022.

The first-year student, who was from Marlborough, died on the first day back from semester break. She was not found for several days.

Coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale officially ruled her death a suicide and urged the community to seek help if they are struggling with their mental health.

Ms Luffman had been suffering in silence for years and keeping her battle secret from friends and family.

She had suicidal thoughts during her time in high school, suffered from anxiety and had even self-harmed.

Her mental health seemingly improved after school as she was 'excited' about starting university.

Ms Luffman also had 'supports' in place after visiting a community mental health service. But in March of this year, her condition took a turn for the worse.

She only opened up about her struggles in her diary, where she regularly made entries.

Coroner Borrowdale reflected on how this documented Ms Luffman's actual mental state and heartbreaking decline.

'In late March Zoe diarised having become highly anxious, and that she felt besieged by 'demons',' she revealed, as reported in the New Zealand Herald.

'Zoe's diary records explicit suicidal ideation. She wrote of not wanting to be around anymore, of 'needing' to die, and of being on the precipice of dying.'

Ms Luffman regularly described having 'feelings of unworthiness and numbness'

On the day of her death - July 15 - Ms Luffman wrote about what she did by starting each entry with 'on the morning of the day I died' or 'on the evening of the day I died', according to the coroner.

In her final entry, she said: 'I pray that I will find peace'.

'Zoe's diary, letters and other documents written in anticipation of her death, stand as witness to her episodic despair and her growing determination to end her life,' Coroner Borrowdale added.

Ms Luffman was enrolled in a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in ecology at the university.

She was a passionate conservationist who dedicated her life to environmental causes.

Ms Luffman organised beach clean-ups, met with former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern to speak about marine protection, and was awarded Keep New Zealand Beautiful Tidy Kiwi of the Month award last year.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12460219/NZ-student-suicide-diary.html

Amanda Kaylor 27

ex-girlfriend Amanda Kaylor to go on the show for “career” opportunities. Amanda's life, meanwhile, tragically came to an end on September 5, 2023, when she died by suicide at the young age of 27. Amanda died as a result of suicide on September 5, Life & Style confirmed via the Los Angeles County Coroner. Her death occurred at her residence.

Jaylee Chillson, the 14-year-old Kansas girl

The mother of Jaylee Chillson, the 14-year-old Kansas girl who fatally shot herself in front of a sheriff’s deputy, wrote a Facebook post in which she paid tribute to her daughter while also expressing anger at those who she said “hurt” the teen.

“I’m angry with those that hurt my baby,” wrote Stacie Chillson. “I’m furious with those I KNOW hurt her and will talk about her now like they didn’t play a part in crushing her.”

The teenager's family says she was bullied from the age of 12, and had moved schools within the Clay County school district, but no teachers took the issues seriously.

On Sept. 16, the Cloud County Sheriff’s Office received a report that Jaylee had run away from home, and the teen was then located by a deputy,
aylee was at an outdoor party in Aurora, Kan., when she was found, police said. As the deputy was bringing her to his vehicle, Jaylee pulled out a gun and shot herself. She was pronounced dead at the scene just after midnight on Sept. 27. The deputy and multiple party-goers witnessed the incident, the department said.

Tristin Kate Smith, a 28-year old
February 21, 1995 - August 7, 2023

SMITH, Tristin Kate -age 28 of Dayton, Ohio Passed away in her home on Monday, August 07, 2023. She was born Tuesday, February 21, 1995 in Findlay, Ohio to Rhonda Ruth (née Meyer) Smith and Ronald Dean Smith.


She is preceded in death by her mother, as well as both sets of grandparents.


She is survived by her father and step mother, Ron & Lois Smith of Dayton; sisters, Sarah Smith of Canton, Ohio, Daye Smith of Dayton, and Brooke Griffin, also of Dayton; brothers, Bryan Griffin of Wake Forest, North Carolina and Brett Griffin of Jacksonville, North Carolina. She is also survived by a large, loving family, a wonderful group of friends and work colleagues.


Following her death, a letter was found on Smith’s laptop by her parents, who sent the letter to the local paper, The Oakwood Register. Following its publication, the letter quickly spread among healthcare workers on social media.

The letter is a condemnation of the for-profit American healthcare system that exploits nurses, healthcare workers and patients. It is a sincere, tragic and in-depth look into what registered nurses (RNs) are experiencing on a daily basis.

Smith titled her suicide note, “A Letter to My Abuser.” It was written in March of 2023, five months prior to her death.

A 2019 report by Judy Davidson, a University of California-San Diego nursing and psychiatry researcher, found that nurse suicides were 41 percent higher for male nurses and nearly 58 percent higher for female nurses as compared to the general population.

On January 18, 2022, Michael Odell, a 27-year-old intensive care travel nurse working at Stanford Health Care, walked out of his shift early amid another COVID-19 wave and never returned. After a frantic 48-hour search by colleagues and police, Odell’s body was found at a wildlife refuge in the Bay Area.

On April 27, 2022, a nurse at Kaiser’s Santa Clara Medical Center died by suicide while at work in the emergency room. Sources told NBC Bay Area that the nurse brought a loaded gun to work and shot and killed himself halfway through his shift.

Jayne Marie Moritz, 16
October 31, 2006  -  September 11, 2023

Jayne Marie Moritz, 16, of Bettendorf, passed away September 11, 2023 at Genesis Medical Center, East Campus, Davenport.Jayne was born October 31, 2006 in Dubuque, IA. She worked at Whitey’s Ice Cream, Bettendorf and loved her Whitey’s family.

    Jayne was a Junior at Pleasant Valley High School where she was a cheerleader and on the Honor Roll. She enjoyed writing, designing posters for different sporting events and loved her friends and her kitten, Queenie.

Bettendorf Iowa Jayne Moritz Obituary And Death Cause Linked To Suicide

To allow them to grieve this tragic loss properly, the family will publish information about Jayne Moritz’s memorial service and funeral arrangements later.

On Sunday, September 10, 2023, Jayne Moritz of Bettendorf, Iowa, unexpectedly committed suicide. Jayne was a dazzling beacon of light. Beautiful and brimming with vitality. She still had a lot of life left.

https://geniuscelebs.com/bettendorf-iowa-jayne-moritz-obituary-and-death/

Abby Jayne Horton (20)
March 29, 2003 ~ November 15, 2023 (age 20)

Our light, Abby Jayne Horton (20) of Salem, Wisconsin passed away on November 15, 2023 with her family by her side. We were blessed with our girl on March 29, 2003 – from that moment on she shined brightly in every heart she touched.

Abby had a passion for life that permeated into everything she did. While at Wilmot High School, she participated in basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field, 2 years of Badger co-op swim, 6 years of Central Falcons Trap & Skeet.

Abby was on the Dean’s list of the Southern Illinois University Aviation program. She soared above the world and enjoyed having new adventures and the freedom of flying.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Abby’s honor can be made to the JED foundation, jedfoundation.org/the-story-of-jed/ or NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nami.org. To reach the National Crisis Lifeline,


The Jed Foundation
https://jedfoundation.org
The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation's teens and young adults, giving them the skills

The Jed Foundation
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › The_Jed_Foundation
The Jed Foundation (JED) is a non-profit organization that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults in the United States.

Jordan Lynne Day Haller, age 20,
January 26, 2002 ~ December 8, 2022 (age 20)

Jordan Lynne Day Haller, age 20, of Allentown NJ, earned her angel wings on Thursday, December 8, 2022.Jordan Haller died at the age of 20

While on earth, Jordan was an advocate for mental health awareness. She was very open on her socials about her own struggles with broken relationships, body image and mental health in general. She even had an account dedicated to this cause on Instagram. 2022 seemed to be a turning point for her at the very young age of 20 years old. We tell her story through my eyes, as her mother, and the evidence she left behind in her own words. In August of 2022, she seemed to drop the baton. Her mental health socials went dark and she went into deep depression. Tragically, she lost her battle with mental health disease on 12/8/22.... So we've picked up the baton and promise to take it to the finish line in her honor.

https://jordansrelay.com/?paged-wdcy9A36=2

McKenna Brown, 16,
September 6, 2005 - August 7, 2022

McKenna Brown, 16, was a star athlete who hoped to play women's hockey at University of South Florida. She was one day away from starting her last year at East Lake High in Tarpon Springs before tragically taking her own life on Aug. 7, 2022 .

"She made a couple mistakes. It led to some physical, sexual, emotional abuse," her dad Hunter explained to FOX 13 in Tampa Bay. "She was blackmailed. She was bullied. She was betrayed by her best friend."Her parents say that despite experiencing cyberbullying and abusive friendships throughout her teens, playing hockey had given her purpose and a source of happiness.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating McKenna's death while her parents grieve.

McKenna Elizabeth Brown of Palm Harbor, a 16 year old Senior at East Lake High School, passed away on August 7th. McKenna loved life, her family, God, hockey, The Chapel, her teammates, and friends

2022 the year of the 16-22 white woman athlete suicides

Lauren Bernett, 20

James Madison University softball star Lauren Bernett dies of apparent suicide at 20 University President Jonathan Alger said in a statement on Tuesday that Bernett had died the previous day. Mon Apr 25, 2022 She was a sophomore biology major

The school’s statement did not state a cause of death, but Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson said on Wednesday that Bernett apparently died of suicide.  

Bernett's death is the most recent of several high profile suicides of female Division I athletes.

Wisconsin runner Sarah Shulze died on April 13. She struggled with balancing "athletics, academics and the demands of every day life" that "overwhelmed her in a single, desperate moment,” according to a family statement.

Stanford soccer goalkeeper Katie Meyer died on March 1, leaving mother Gina Meyer to wonder if the combined pressure of school and sports was too much.

I wonder if  Sarah Shulze  knew of  Katie Meyer.

I wonder if  Lauren Bernett  knew of Katie Meyer  and Sarah Shulze

Katie Meyer = soccer

Sarah Shulze = cross country

Lauren Bernett = soft ball

is bball tennis volleyball or swimming next ?

is there another 20 something white female fair complexion blonde college student athlete who, upon reading about  Lauren Bernett  and Katie Meyer  and Sarah Shulze is planning her own suicide within the next couple months?

almost like a fad

update

Days after the sports world learned about the passing of James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett, a cause of death has been revealed.

According to the medical examiner's office in Roanoke, Va., the athlete, 20, died by suicide.

Sarah Shulze  age 21

Now that bright light has been extinguished, at least in life. Her family has announced that the 21-year-old Shulze died on April 13, 2022  in Wisconsin. They revealed, in a website posting, that their daughter "took her own life."

Sarah Shulze was energetic, ambitious, committed.

She served her hometown of Oak Park as a member of the National Charity League and was a dedicated member of the Associated Student Body at Oak Park High for four years. She was the senior class secretary in 2019 and helped plan the senior prom.

In her time at the University of Wisconsin, she earned an internship to the Wisconsin state Legislature and volunteered as a poll worker for the 2020 presidential election.

Shulze was worldly, with her thirst for adventure taking her on trips to Europe, Africa and Alaska.

Oak Park distance runner Sarah Shulze will be ‘remembered forever’
Shulze, 21, a former student-athlete at Oak Park High and current runner at Wisconsin, died by suicide April 13

“Sarah took her own life. Balancing athletics, academics and the demands of every day life overwhelmed her in a single, desperate moment. Like you, we are shocked and grief stricken while holding on tightly to all that Sarah was,” the message continued.

Shulze died in Wisconsin where she was a student-athlete at University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was 21 years old.

Shulze’s family announced on April 15 that she had died two days earlier, and gave the cause of death.

“Sarah took her own life,” the family said. “Balancing athletics, academics and the demands of everyday life overwhelmed her in a single, desperate moment. Like you, we are shocked and grief stricken while holding on tightly to all that Sarah was.

Fri Mar 04, 2022 11:01 pm

I'm just learning this right now.

Katie Meyer, 22

Stanford women's soccer player Katie Meyer dies at 22; cause of death not provided

together as a community, we are all mourning the passing of Katie Meyer. On March 1, 2022, our dear friends lost their beautiful daughter. Our thoughts, prayers and love are with Katie's family- there just are no words to describe this loss.

Katie was a senior at Stanford University majoring in International Relations and History, and was a huge presence for the Stanford Women's Soccer Team and women's sports in

Katie Meyer, Stanford soccer star, dies by suicide the coroner's office on Thursday determined that the death of Stanford women's soccer player Katie Meyer was suicide.

The County of Santa Clara Medical Examiner-Coroner said there is no foul play related to Meyer's death.

reason

Parents of Stanford soccer team captain Katie Meyer speak out about her death
The parents of Katie Meyer confirmed the 22-year-old soccer star died by suicide and said fear over potential disciplinary action by the school may have contributed to her death.

The parents of Stanford University soccer star Katie Meyer believe their daughter's fear over potential disciplinary action from the school may have contributed to her death earlier this week.

Steve and Gina Meyer are speaking out in the hope of preventing other parents from facing the same tragedy after confirming the statement by an official from the County of Santa Clara on Thursday that their 22-year-old daughter died by suicide.

The promising soccer goalie, who was just months away from graduation, was found dead in her dorm room Tuesday.

"She died by suicide," Gina Meyer told NBC News' Stephanie Gosk on TODAY Friday. "The last couple days are like a parent’s worst nightmare and you don’t wake up from it. So it’s just horrific."
2019 NCAA Women's College Cup - Championship
The parents of Stanford soccer player Katie Meyer say her fear over possible disciplinary action at school may have contributed to her death by suicide.John Todd / Getty Images

"I don’t even think it’s hit us yet," she continued. "We’re still in shock. But we had no red flags."

https://www.today.com/news/sports/katie-meyer-death-parents-interview-rcna18694

when I was growing up, the Ivy League and Harvard and schools like Stanford and University of Chicago were my dream schools.

I have wondered what it would be like to be female, and I think blonde hair and blue eyes are the most attractive combination.

unfortunately it takes more than good grades and SAT/ACT scores to get accepted into an elite school, they often also look at extracurricular from sports, to science project research, to leaderships volunteers, music talents, etc.

so Katie Meyer, 22

was highly athletic, with blue eyes and blonde hair, well versed with the new stuff like instagram and facebook and attending STANFORD University.


is the last person i'd expect to commit suicide.

reminds me of the poem I read when I was in middle school the English Lit teacher had us read the poem Richard Cory

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich – yes, richer than a king –
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.

you don't expect a rich person to commit suicide, being wealthy is awesome.

i can't say Katie Meyer, 22 money situation but she was a STANFORD university student with blue eyes and blonde hair.

i mean it might be one thing to be a stanford university student as a nerdy looking unathletic Asian nerd/geen.

Katie Meyer, 22  was a STANFORD university student with blue eyes and blonde hair and soccer and she committed suicide.

WOW!

well if i have financial problems or terminal disease diagnosis i plan to commit suicide to, but i hope if there is reincarnation to end up like this








I once wanted to attend Stanford and while I took AP classes and high SAT/ACT scores, I didn't do sports or scientific research or debate team or anything like that.

and I don't have blue eyes or blonde hair

I've heard Bill Gates daughter and Chelsea Clinton attended Stanford.

The parents of Katie Meyer, a star soccer goalie who died by suicide last spring, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Stanford on Wednesday.

At the time of her death Meyer, 21, was facing disciplinary action for allegedly spilling coffee on a Stanford football player who was accused of sexually assaulting a female soccer player. Meyer's father said his daughter was defending that teammate, who was a minor at the time.

The lawsuit states that on the night of her death, Stanford "negligently and recklessly" sent her the formal disciplinary notice that "contained threatening language regarding sanctions and potential 'removal from the university.'"

On the night of Feb. 28, Meyer FaceTimed her parents and two sisters from her dorm room at Stanford and was in a good mood, according to her mom. They were coordinating her plans for spring break, which included a stop home in Southern California before a few days in Mexico with friends.

However, her parents say that later that evening Meyer received the six-page email from Stanford informing her of a disciplinary hearing.

The next day, Meyer was found dead in her dorm room, where she lived as a resident adviser. An autopsy performed March 3 confirmed the manner of death was from suicide.

"Stanford's after-hours disciplinary charge, and the reckless nature and manner of submission to Katie, caused Katie to suffer an acute stress reaction that impulsively led to her suicide,'' the lawsuit states. "Katie's suicide was completed without planning and solely in response to the shocking and deeply distressing information she received from Stanford while alone in her room without any support or resources.''

In a statement to several media outlets, Stanford spokesperson Dee Mostofi rebutted the lawsuit's claims.

"The Stanford community continues to grieve Katie's tragic death and we sympathize with her family for the unimaginable pain that Katie's passing has caused them," Mostofi wrote.

"However, we strongly disagree with any assertion that the university is responsible for her death. While we have not yet seen the formal complaint brought by the Meyer family, we are aware of some of the allegations made in the filing, which are false and misleading," Mostofi added.

Mia Janin 14-year-old

Schoolboys allegedly used a group chat to make fun of a 14-year-old fellow pupil who is believed to have killed herself, an inquest has heard.

Mia Janin, a pupil at the Jewish Free School (JFS) in Kenton, north-west London, was found dead at her family home in Harrow in March 2021.

Her father, Mariano Janin, has said he believes she was cyber-bullied.

Abigail Fleming 15-year-old

he unexpected loss of Abby Fleming on September 13, 2023, has left a community in search of understanding and solace. 15-year-old Abigail Fleming killed herself on September 13, 2023 in Charlotte, NC. Abigail was a student at Myers Park High School.



Abigail “Abby” Rose Fleming passed away on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. She was born on November 26, 2007, the beloved daughter of Brad and Lara Fleming and sister of Noah Fleming.

Bella Greer , 14,

‘Sweet and generous’ girl, 14, killed herself after NHS delays 'Bubbly' girl, 14, took her own life after being bullied at school and mental health delays

Bella Greer, 14, took her own life in a bedroom at her family home in Lytham, Lancashire, having been bullied at school and had delays in receiving mental health treatment, an inquest heard Bella Greer was found dead at around 6pm on October 5 last year. , 2023

Marissa Renee Imrie  (aged 14)

Birth
   10 Feb 1987
   Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA
Death
   17 Dec 2001 (aged 14)

   San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, USA

obituary wrote:
Marissa Imrie as little girl with her mother, Renee Milligan. On Dec. 17, 2001, at the age of 14, Marissa took her own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Milligan then sued the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, in an attempt to force it to install a suicide deterrent barrier. The suit was thrown out

Her daughter, Marissa Imrie, was an honors student and cross-country runner at Santa Rosa High School. On Dec. 17, 2001, Marissa took a $150 cab ride to Vista Point, at the north end of the bridge, then walked out onto the span and jumped. She was 14.

Abigail L. Wilford, 15,

Abigail L. Wilford, 15, of Port Clinton, OH passed away Friday, March 29, 2024. She was born November 4, 2008 in Toledo, OH
On March 28, 2024, her life was tragically cut short. She was only 15 years old. Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her

Whether through music, theater or other extracurriculars, many knew Abigail Wilford as a friendly face who greatly cared about others.

"She loved everyone. She really did," her father, Tyson Wilford, said. "She had such a big heart. Anywhere she went, everyone was her friend."

Family, friends and other community members are mourning Abigail, who passed away on Friday.

A Danbury Middle School student, Abigail was 15.

"Abigail died by suicide after years of battling mental health problems," said Tyson, who emphasized how he and other family members always supported her.

She'll be remembered as someone with a big heart who also loved animals and had an uncanny ability to become friends with everyone, according to her father, Tyson, and step-mom, Roseann.

Abby Smith, 14

Name of Deceased Abigail Elizabeth "Abby" Smith
Age
Date of Death 05/12/2024
Date of Birth 10/05/2009

Abigail Elizabeth Smith, of Port Matilda, was born on October 5, 2009 and died unexpectedly on May 12, 2024. Abby was the beloved daughter of Jennifer Black and Jonathon Smith and sister to Xavier Smith and Amelia Smith.  


The parents of the Park Forest Middle School student who died this month are asking anyone who may have witnessed any form of bullying to come forward. In a letter sent to the State College Area School District community Friday via Superintendent Curtis Johnson, the parents of eighth grader Abby Smith addressed the community for the first time since the 14-year-old’s death by suicide on May 12. 2024

Read more at: https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/state-college/article288716090.html#storylink=cpy

Emily Gold at 17

Emily Gold, Cheerleader Featured on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Dies by Suicide at 17

America's Got Talent cheerleader, 17, leaps to her death from California overpass

Several callers alerted California Highway Patrol after seeing Emily on the road just east of Haven Avenue.

A CHP spokesman said that a number of vehicles had struck her body by the time officers arrived, and at least one had failed to stop.

The school broke the news of the senior's death with a message to students on Saturday.

'Emily was on both our Varsity Dance Team and Varsity cheer squad, our thoughts and prayer are with the family as they grieve.'

'Please keep Emily and her loved ones and friends in your thoughts and prayers,' added Los Osos High School Principal Eric Cypher in a written statement.

Fellow troupe member Mia Bustamante said Emily would be 'missed beyond words.'

Emily Gold, who performed on “America’s Got Talent” a month ago, has died by suicide at the age of 17.

The San Bernardino Coroner’s Office told People that LGold, a los Osos High School dancer, was found dead on Friday, Sept. 13 at 11:52 and was discovered under a bridge on the eastbound 210 in Rancho Cucamonga.

“When the officers arrived, they located a female, 17 year old, who was struck by at least one other vehicle in the carpool lane on eastbound 210,” California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said. “The female did succumb to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Last month, Gold joined the rest of the LOHS dance team on “America’s Got Talent.” They advanced all the way to the quarterfinals before finally being eliminated. Their performance was still strong enough to earn accolades from Simon Cowell.

“It was absolutely brilliant,” Cowell said after the group’s May audition.

Flossie Newson  13

“What I want to get across to parents, is that this could happen to anyone,” the mother of Florence Newson says.

It has been over a year since her 13-year-old daughter took her own life after a day at school, taking her family, school friends and teachers completely by surprise.







In the weeks before she died, Caroline Newson had noticed a change in her usually bright and bubbly daughter, who was known as Flossie. Yet while she was aware of her daughter’s anxiety over her friendships at school, nothing could have prepared her for how dramatic her mental health decline was.

ELIZABETH ANNE VALUSEK, age 28,




ELIZABETH ANNE VALUSEK, age 28, of Colorado passed away tragically on the morning of Wednesday, July 18, 2018—just two days after returning ..I lost sight of who she was in the blinding glare of how she died. Today, however, at the third anniversary of her suicide,Beth Anne, as her parents first called her, was born April 12, 1990 in Houston, Texas, to Jay Evan and Cathleen Anne Valusek, exactly four years and four days after her brother, John.

o. Please notice, too, though, what’s wrong with the cumulative effect of such an unbroken paean of praise and positivity—the conventional approach to obituary and eulogy—in light of the brutal fact that, in the end, she killed herself anyway.

ELIZABETH ANNE VALUSEK, age 28, of Colorado passed away tragically on the morning of Wednesday, July 18, 2018—just two days after returning from Africa, where she had served as a Health Outreach Volunteer for the Peace Corps in Nangade and Metarica, Mozambique.

Beth Anne, as her parents first called her, was born April 12, 1990 in Houston, Texas, to Jay Evan and Cathleen Anne Valusek, exactly four years and four days after her brother, John.



A breech baby—head jammed up under mom’s ribcage as if she were trying to crawl as far away as possible from that danged doorway into the loud and scary world—Beth Anne had to be “dragged” (by cesarean section) from her room, kicking and screaming. Ironically, this little drama neatly foreshadowed the young girl who, years later, would spend countless hours reading alone behind her bedroom door, only coming out reluctantly for food and air.

Once, during elementary school, she opined: “It’s good to get into a book because you use your mind. If you read more and more, it might help you think and write better.”

At age two, Beth Anne also demonstrated an early talent for theatre—stripping off her diaper at an outdoor restaurant near Rocky Mountain National Park and dancing around half-naked, to the chagrin of her parents and the delight of vacationers from around the world. When she was older, she acted in at least one school play, and sang a song with “rather suggestive lyrics” for a talent show, which, sadly, she did not win.

Inspired by her father, a professional writer, and encouraged by her mother, Beth began keeping a journal at age six. “I like writing,” she noted, early on, “becos its fun and you can say whatever you feel becos its for your self.”

Some of her most astute observations were about animals, which, generally speaking, she adored.

“My dog Holmsley is a puppiey,” she wrote in one of her first entries, “but I don’t like her becos she won’t come to me. She is 2 months old, so she shood come to me by now but she dusint. I don’t know why.” Shortly, however, she added: “Well now I’m in a better mood. Shes okay.”

A few days later, she wrote: “I like bears becos they can klime trees. I wish hunters woodint kill bears. I rilly wish thay woodint kill anything.”

Beth spent much of her childhood nesting on her bed among growing piles of stuffed animals, including one she affectionately dubbed Growly Bear (he was actually a dog). Elsewhere in the house (and yard), she “nested” among a beloved, ever-changing menagerie of wriggling, jumping, crawling, nibbling, chirping, barking, meowing, hissing and—you guessed it—pooping dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, bunnies, salamanders, turtles, and god knows what else.

“I love all my pets, old and new,” she wrote, when she was nine. “The first day we got each animal, those were the best days of my life. And even though some are gone now, they’re always in my heart.”

Not surprisingly, Beth became a vegetarian. “Save the turkeys!” she cried, one Thanksgiving. Since she didn’t actually like vegetables, her family teasingly dubbed her a “non-meatetarian.” Nevertheless, they began eating a lot of soy-based meat substitutes in solidarity with the little activist.

By the third grade, Beth was writing and illustrating fantastic stories about dragons and dolphins and wolves. She won first place in a school writing contest and published her first piece—a short story about a baby dragon mistaken for a winged iguana—in the “literary magazine” of Holmsley Elementary School.

At age 10, after her family moved to Colorado, she proclaimed that she wanted to be at least a “part-time author” when she grew up. She published her first poem—about the beauty and serenity of nature—in the Rocky Mountain edition of A Celebration of Young Poets.

During the fourth grade, schoolwork became “too easy and boring,” as Beth put it. Her intellectual gifts began to radiate. She whizzed through fifth grade math a year ahead of her peers, and won local and regional spelling bees, making it all the way to the state championship—one of only six fourth graders out of 263 contestants.

She sang in the choir. Kickball and soccer were her favorite sports. She loved any excuse to run.

At West Jefferson Middle School in Conifer, Beth was enrolled in the Gifted & Talented program, where, among other things, she studied French and advanced mathematics. She joined the girls’ basketball team, dreaming about one day becoming a member of the Women’s National Basketball Association or an Olympic track runner. Everyone said she was very fast.

Shortly after the start of seventh grade, Beth’s dad got a phone call from a teacher, who wanted to discuss something about “Elissa’s” schoolwork. After a pregnant pause, he replied, “Who’s Elissa?” Apparently, Beth had officially changed her name without consulting the, um, authorities. From then on, she was known to friends and teachers (and later, colleagues) as Elissa.

At home, she would always be Beth.

At age 13, she won an essay competition about “What Freedom Means to Me,” taking first place among winners from 10 schools in the Central Colorado District of an international civic service organization.

“Freedom,” she wrote, “allows you to speak your mind, choose what you think is best, and be your own person … It should never be taken for granted … Without freedom, all my dreams of choosing to be who I want to be would be gone … So ask yourself: Are you abusing the privileges that come with freedom?”

Young Elissa received a plaque, a standing ovation, and a $200 cash prize at the awards ceremony in Denver, which she attended with her father—whose ego was seriously bruised by how much earlier in life his daughter began making real money from her writing.

When she entered the stressful and challenging social world of high school, Elissa, an introvert, shifted gears, suspended her budding career as a writer, and began to exercise her athletic prowess. She joined the track and cross country teams, where she quickly made a name for herself as an “amazing” and “ridiculously fast” runner, according to teammates and friends.

“Running kept me (relatively) sane,” she reflected, a few years later. “No complex thought required. Just run and run. If not for track and cross country, I probably would have dropped out of high school and been forced to become a hooker on the snowy streets of Conifer.”

Instead (thankfully), she won at least 48 awards—ribbons, medals, pins and plaques—mostly in 1600-, 3200-, and 6400-meter relays.

In recognition of achieving outstanding performance in relay races throughout her freshman year at Conifer High School, Elissa received an All-Conference Award. Over the next three years, she won 10 First Place awards, 8 Second Place awards, 9 Third Place awards and, well, a boxful of others.

After her family moved to Boulder for her senior year, she continued her winning streak, appearing in the Boulder newspaper and being featured in her high school yearbook. For a class assignment that year, Elissa penned a list of “50 Things To Do Before I Die.” As you might expect, one was: “Run a marathon.”

But she had a variety of other, less obvious aspirations. Number 43, for example, was: “Get laser eye surgery.” Number 44: “Don’t go into space because of #43 (your eye will fall apart).” And Number 45: “Find out if #44 is true.” Funny girl.

Seriously though, #10 on her bucket list—pretty high up—was: “Join the Peace Corps.”

That spring, she applied to two state universities and was accepted at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Six years later, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with two undergraduate degrees—a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, with a focus on Public Health.

During college, Elissa started keeping a journal again. “Someday I’m going to write a book,” she mused. “Only, they say you’re supposed to write what you know and I don’t know a lot right now. So, it might take a while.”

She took Creative Writing. She also did yoga; jogged along the river to stay in shape; went skydiving; became a member of Phi Sigma Pi, a gender-inclusive National Honors Fraternity; fell in love with Africa, for reasons no one ever quite understood; spent a semester abroad at the University of Botswana; bungee-jumped off the 420-foot-high bridge at Victoria Falls over the Zambezi River; worked as a community organizer for Barack Obama’s second term in office; volunteered at the Global Refugee Center and Weld County Food Bank in Greeley; studied Professional Spanish in order to join the Peace Corps one day; interned at a mental health facility; and created a blog—where she introduced herself as “half-hick/half hippie, an immature intellectual, funny and philosophical.”

Eventually, in her blog, she “came out” as a “vegetarian, bisexual, atheist, native Texan.”

“A big factor in losing my faith as a child,” she explained, with a wink, in a piece she wrote about atheism, “was the claim by some Christians that animals don’t have souls and don’t get to live forever. You’re telling me ‘All Dogs Go To Heaven’ was a lie?!”

The name of her blog was EAV Electric Love, which she explained as follows: “I love so much at times, it feels like my heart has been struck by lightning. I love pretty much everything—except for hatred, willful ignorance, and apathy. That means I might love you, even if you’re kind of an asshole. Aren’t we all, at times?”

After graduation, Elissa worked for two years in the mental health field, as a direct care professional and medication technician at Devereux Colorado, a residential facility for youth with behavioral issues.

Once, an eight-year-old kid punched her in the face, shattered her glasses, nicking her eye, and sent her to the emergency room.

She also volunteered for a year at the Boulder County AIDS Project; adopted a bear at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado; donated money to support the Wolf & Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Divide, Colorado; and took a solo two-week vacation to Guatemala, of all places, where she found herself eavesdropping on Peace Corps volunteers in a bar one night.

And finally realized it was time.

A few months later, Elissa completed her application to the Peace Corps, hoping for a post in Mozambique, some 2000 km south of the equator on the east coast of Africa, where she could help battle the dual epidemics of HIV and malaria.

“I plan to study social work and public health in graduate school,” she wrote, in her personal motivation statement, “so that I can work either internationally, or with refugees and immigrants in the United States. It’s important for me to experience life in a community with limited resources, and to face the reality of poverty, so I can better understand the people I will work with in the future. I expect to be challenged by cultural views that conflict with my personal beliefs and values—for example, the treatment of women and girls. But my volunteer work for a political campaign taught me the importance of finding commonalities and expressing disagreement respectfully in order to maintain positive relationships. I hope to be a role model for young girls in my community.”

After her initial Skype interview, the interviewer wrote: “Elizabeth Valusek is a competitive applicant for Peace Corps service. She is highly recommended—without reservations.” Out of some 20,000 applicants, she was one of roughly 4,000 who were accepted.

There were 56 other Health Outreach Volunteers in Elissa’s Peace Corps training group, the 28th cohort stationed in Mozambique, known as “Moz 28.” Even before they arrived in-country, her training director reported that “Elissa already stands out as a great volunteer” based on the initiative she showed by actively keeping her cohort “organized” on their long journey to Africa.

Like herding cats, no doubt. (Which, of course, she loved.)

Moz 28 spent three months in pre-service training, living with host families in a town called Namaacha—practicing Portuguese and Cimakonde (the official language of Mozambique), learning how to set up bedding with a mosquito net, immersing in local customs and culture, washing clothes with their bare hands, using a bucket to bathe, preparing and cooking native foods. Unfortunately, that included decapitating and plucking a chicken by hand, which Elissa proudly reported she had accomplished without bursting into tears.

She became known for her passion, commitment, and sense of humor.

Jake, one of the other volunteers, said, “Elissa was my rock, my stability, during training, when things were going crazy. We were in language class together, and she was such a breath of fresh air—always cracking hilarious jokes. I can honestly say, without her friendship I wouldn’t have survived very long in Mozambique.”

When asked what sort of site she would prefer to be assigned to, she said she would love to open a brand new Peace Corps location, where no American had ever served before—a challenging undertaking, indeed.


reference https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/girl-light-belated-obituary-my-daughter-jay-e-valusek-m-s-m-ed-

Ellie Soutter, 18

 Ellie Soutter, 18




Olympic snowboarder Ellie Soutter, 18, ended life due to mental illness and pressure of competition, dad says

Ellie Soutter was found dead in the woods after she disappeared from a French ski resort on her birthday.  (GoFundMe)

A history of mental health issues paired with the pressure of competing at the highest level may have contributed to snowboarder Ellie Soutter’s apparent suicide, her father said Tuesday.

Soutter, a rising Olympic star in Britain, died on her 18th birthday last week, officials revealed. Though an official cause of death hasn't been confirmed, the athlete’s father told BBC South East there were several factors that contributed to her “ending her life.”

“Unfortunately it all came about from missing a flight which then meant she didn't go training with the [Great Britain] squad,” Tony Soutter said. “She felt she'd let them down, felt she'd let me down, and just tragically it just takes one silly little thing like that to tip someone over the edge, because there's a lot of pressure on children.”

Ellie made a decision to commit suicide, and now her face and discussions of her mental health is all over the internet, reported in all the news.