A 19-year-old girl left gifts for her family before she took her own life, her parents have revealed.
Madison Holleran, a talented student at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, jumped to her death last January.
In an interview with People magazine her family released her suicide note and revealed that she had left gifts for them before she died.
Ms Holleran, who was a track-and-field athlete, left gingersnap biscuits for her grandparents, chocolate truffles for her father, and necklaces for her mother.
The woman said in her note that she felt “locked out”, her parents told the magazine.
Ms Holleran’s father Jim said the family set up the Madison Holleran Foundation in their daughter’s memory, in order to help high school pupils suffering from depression.
“Madison was the happiest kid, you know, when she was happy,” explained Mr Holleran.
“And if that person would understand what they are doing to their family and their friends and their extended friends, they would not choose suicide if they really understood that they would be gone forever. They would not make that choice, but they are not thinking in their right mind.”
Mr Holleran said she had told her parents the month before she died that she had been feeling suicidal and that he had sent her a text message asking her to see a therapist on the day of the incident.
Friends have set up a memorial page on Facebook for Ms Holleran where people suffering from depression share stories and give each other help.
Suicide is always preventable and anyone who feels they are at risk can contact Samaritans.
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