PA - Mother Jumps from Bridge - Three Children Left in Car - Allegheny County - Friday, 14 June 2019

[muggles63]

That's a catch phrase that people who suffer grueling, life-long mental health issues would never agree to.

Imagine having physical pain that is almost always present. Sometimes it abates for a few days or hours. Sometimes for weeks or months. And then it's back with vengeance.

The pain level varies, often with unbearable intensity.

And no one can fix it for good. No pill or surgery or treatment promises a permanent cure.

Everyone keeps trying to help you. You keep trying to help yourself. But it's nothing but an endless fight to stay here.

That's what people with mental illness can face, except the pain is emotional.

I can't blame people who kill themselves or contemplate it. I don't think it's actually selfish either.

For some it's simply desperation.

Mental health issues aren't temporary.

Thank you for putting that so well

 

[borndem]

Thank you Ursamajr. I have suffered from depression my whole life but I was lucky to have so much support from family and friends and free healthcare and unemployement benefits while I was in a clinic and months of psychotherapy afterwards.
I don't think I'd still be here if I had to worry about help and money on top of being ill.

Bravo for you and to you!!
Glad you're with us here on Websleuths, too!

 

[Bugurl747]

Mother who jumped from Homestead Grays Bridge was raising three children alone

Neighbors of a McKees Rocks woman who jumped to her death from the Homestead Grays Bridge Friday said she was a dedicated mother, but was raising three children alone, including one who was born prematurely.

Ms. Holbrook, who lived in a five-bedroom apartment on Church Avenue for around three years, recently had a child who was born prematurely, according to neighbors. Ms. Holbrook stuck close to her children, neighbors said, especially through the many hospital visits required to care for the child.

Neighbors said they believed Ms. Holbrook had received services from a local psychiatric facility; UPMC spokeswoman Susan Manko said patient privacy law prevents her from commenting.

Lynette said Ms. Holbrook would also often babysit other kids in addition to caring for her own.

Ms. Holbrook's mother often helped take care of the three kids, Ms. D'amico said. Ms. Holbrook’s mother could not be reached for comment.

Neighbors said Ms. Holbrook's children are with their grandmother.

Stanlee Holbrook Obituary (2019) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Death / Obituary : Allyn Holbrook, 26, of McKees Rocks, Mckees Woman Leaves three kids in car, jumps from homestead grays bridge. - Death Records

 

[MimosaMornings]

Three kids at 26 with one of those born premature recently. Raising them alone.
I can’t imagine trying to do that without my partner’s help and support.
Where the heck are the fathers of these children?

 

[sloane7777]

Chronic manic depression can be (and usually does) last a lifetime. For those that suffer from this disease, it is a lifetime of work trying to keep your head up. I don't know if Stanlee had a support system or not but it can be nearly impossible to make it day to day without one and without the resources to help you cope. Saying that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem dismisses the actual gravity of the situation. Suffering from this disease is a horrible and extremely painful struggle.

Edited to add: Leaving the kids in the car right by where she jumped suggests (to me) that this was well thought out by Stanlee. I think that is what leads me to think this was manic depression. She was aware that her children would be found as quickly as possible by doing that. If she had left them with family, there would have been a strong possibility that they would have suspected something and might have tried to stop her. She didn't want that and it seems like she didn't want to burden anyone. There is little doubt in my mind that she felt this was the best option for her but mostly for her kids. I know how that sounds but it is hard to comprehend manic depression if you don't experience it first hand. Of course I'm basing this off of nothing but my own brain and it's tendency to work this way. Such is life.

RIP Stanlee. I am sorry you saw this as the best option but I do understand why you did.

Sadly I do too , when the urge hits you sometimes it takes over before you change your mind , and when manic and in a rage it does not matter if you have the best support system in the world unless someone is around 24/7 Poor woman I'm sure she felt in her head a complete panic , I am very lucky my husband watches me like a hawk and I rarely go places alone and when I snap he's there , when I was younger my friends always thought he smothered me or was jealous , insecure or something to that effect but its literally to keep me from jumping off a bridge , I feel so bad for this Woman it was an impulse decision and she really needed someone to reel her in and she didn't have that at the most important moment. I don't know what a solution is to this, I just don't think there is one . Thank you Ursamajr you have a deep understanding and sound like you know it well

 

[sloane7777]

That's a catch phrase that people who suffer grueling, life-long mental health issues would never agree to.

Imagine having physical pain that is almost always present. Sometimes it abates for a few days or hours. Sometimes for weeks or months. And then it's back with vengeance.

The pain level varies, often with unbearable intensity.

And no one can fix it for good. No pill or surgery or treatment promises a permanent cure.

Everyone keeps trying to help you. You keep trying to help yourself. But it's nothing but an endless fight to stay here.

That's what people with mental illness can face, except the pain is emotional.

I can't blame people who kill themselves or contemplate it. I don't think it's actually selfish either.

For some it's simply desperation.

Mental health issues aren't temporary.

OK and this comment I kinda feel I need to print it out for people who don't get it and carry multiple copies around , Thank you Gitana !!!

 

[Ursamajr]

Sadly I do too , when the urge hits you sometimes it takes over before you change your mind , and when manic and in a rage it does not matter if you have the best support system in the world unless someone is around 24/7 Poor woman I'm sure she felt in her head a complete panic , I am very lucky my husband watches me like a hawk and I rarely go places alone and when I snap he's there , when I was younger my friends always thought he smothered me or was jealous , insecure or something to that effect but its literally to keep me from jumping off a bridge , I feel so bad for this Woman it was an impulse decision and she really needed someone to reel her in and she didn't have that at the most important moment. I don't know what a solution is to this, I just don't think there is one . Thank you Ursamajr you have a deep understanding and sound like you know it well

The past page really has my hopes up that one day mental illness wont be whispered about behind closed doors. I know there have been major strides towards that in the past 10 to 20 years but still, it remains largely ignored. That said, I hope that these children are able to receive the help they most surely will need to move through this. Much love to everyone in the thread and beyond.

 

[sloane7777]

The past page really has my hopes up that one day mental illness wont be whispered about behind closed doors. I know there have been major strides towards that in the past 10 to 20 years but still, it remains largely ignored. That said, I hope that these children are able to receive the help they most surely will need to move through this. Much love to everyone in the thread and beyond.

Thank you, you are a good human!

 

[Deleted member 229974]

Three kids at 26 with one of those born premature recently. Raising them alone.
I can’t imagine trying to do that without my partner’s help and support.
Where the heck are the fathers of these children?

Most are in prison.

 

[chasing.halos]

That's a catch phrase that people who suffer grueling, life-long mental health issues would never agree to.

Imagine having physical pain that is almost always present. Sometimes it abates for a few days or hours. Sometimes for weeks or months. And then it's back with vengeance.

The pain level varies, often with unbearable intensity.

And no one can fix it for good. No pill or surgery or treatment promises a permanent cure.

Everyone keeps trying to help you. You keep trying to help yourself. But it's nothing but an endless fight to stay here.

That's what people with mental illness can face, except the pain is emotional.

I can't blame people who kill themselves or contemplate it. I don't think it's actually selfish either.

For some it's simply desperation.

Mental health issues aren't temporary.

Thank you x a million.