Tyra Spaulding, a 26-year-old accountant and former contestant in the 2023 Miss Jamaica Universe pageant, has died in what police are treating as a suspected suicide, authorities and relatives said.
Relatives discovered Spaulding’s body on Tuesday evening and police confirmed that an investigation has been launched.
No further details about the circumstances of her death have been released.
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Spaulding was widely known for her public work on mental-health awareness and suicide prevention.
In recent weeks friends and colleagues say they became increasingly worried after a series of troubling posts on her social media accounts.
In an Instagram post on August 15 she wrote that she was “going through hell.”
In a video posted to her YouTube channel two weeks ago, titled, “Don’t be sad,” she said, “I’m fighting for my life… my mind is trying to kill me,” and described waking each day with different suicidal thoughts.
Those who knew her remembered Spaulding for her advocacy and for speaking openly about the difficulties she faced.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact local emergency services or a trusted health professional immediately. If you are able, reach out to friends, family, or a mental-health service close to you for support.
