Single mum and 5-year-old daughter found dead at foot of Jurong East block on Day 2 of CNY

A really tragic incident occurred in Singapore on Day 2 of Chinese New Year. A single mum and her 5-year-old daughter were found dead at the foot of a block in Toh Guan estate in Jurong East, on 6 February 2019.

According to The New Paper, Ms Siivashinni Johanan, 29, a private nurse, and her daughter Chiryllanyaa Ganesan, were found dead at the foot of Block 288B Jurong East Street 21. It is believed that they fell from a height.

Police were alerted to the incident at around 9.51pm and investigations are now going on.

Apparently, Ms Siivashinni was not a resident of the block, but was visiting her brother's flat.

Cousin Mr Steven Chan said that at about 9 pm, she had left the flat with her daughter because she wanted to go to the nearby shops.

It seems Ms Siivashinni, who is a single mum, had just returned from Switzerland on Sunday.

"When her parents died a while ago, it took a heavy toll on her. She had been battling depression for a long time," Mr Chan told TNP.

"We convinced her to go to Switzerland for three months to clear her mind because her sister works there as a teacher."

The tragedy has left the family in shock.

"Siivashinni had all the attributes of a nurse. She was kind, understanding and loving, and her daughter was bubbly and cute. The entire family loves them so much", Mr Chan told TNP.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to this family...

This is not the first such tragedy...On 23 November 2016, a young Singapore mum jumped to death with her baby, from her 12th storey unit at Bukit Panjang. 

"What to do when there is no way out, she had apparently googled in Chinese in a Google search, a few days before her death.

Dear mummies, you might feel afraid, overwhelmed and hopeless, but please remember that it is okay not to be okay. Hang in there. You are loved and not alone...there is no shame in seeking help.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.

Symptoms of depression include:

• Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
• Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Preventing depression

If you know someone suffering from depression, it is important to talk to them and encourage them to seek professional help. Not talking to them will make them feel even more isolated.

Here are some strategies that might help a person suffering from depression:

• Take steps to control stress, to increase your resilience and boost your self-esteem.
• Reach out to family and friends, especially in times of crisis, to seek help
• Get treatment at the earliest sign of a problem to help prevent depression from worsening.
• Consider getting long-term maintenance treatment to help prevent a relapse of symptoms.

Here are some helplines for those suffering from depression in Singapore:

• Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444
• Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
• Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222
• Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800
• Shan You Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 6741-0078

(Source: The New Paper, MayoClinic)