It usually doesn’t make any headlines when someone hangs themselves or otherwise finds a way to end their lives. Dozens of people everyday find a way to do so.

But The New York Times today tells the heart-wrenching story of a 25-year-old Mexican immigrant mother who hung not only herself, but her four daughters as well. One of them survived.

Apparently, the breakup with her husband and domestic violence led to her distress:

She sounded distraught, “but I had no idea she would do this,” said Filly Echeverría, the girls’ godmother.

Relatives said Ms. Estrada had been depressed in recent months after separating from her common-law husband. Sheriff Fowler said she had obtained a restraining order against the man in August because of domestic violence against her.

It’s not only difficult when you’re dealing with all of that, but when you’re an immigrant, you can often feel isolated from much of society — and society’s services, such as healthcare. Not to mention how different cultures view ideas like “mental health.”

Just a sad story.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 May 2007
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