How one mother lost her daughter to mental illness
15 days ago
- #family-estrangement
- #psychosis
- #mental-health
- Naina Mishra, a 21-year-old woman of Indian heritage with an American accent, started attending a yoga studio in London in January 2022.
- She had recently graduated from university in the US, interned at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey, and was preparing for a high-flying job in New York.
- By May 2022, Naina left London but returned in November 2023, showing signs of severe mental distress, including paranoia and intrusive thoughts.
- Throughout 2024, Naina exhibited erratic behavior, such as changing addresses frequently, making bizarre claims, and cutting off contact with her family.
- Naina's mother, Vandana Luthra, went to extraordinary lengths to find her, hiring private investigators and reaching out to friends, but Naina repeatedly avoided contact.
- In October 2024, Naina reached out to her mother, claiming she was in danger, but her mental state was clearly deteriorating, displaying signs of psychosis.
- Despite efforts to help her, Naina ended her life in Hong Kong, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and a grieving family.
- Naina's story highlights the challenges of recognizing and addressing mental illness, especially in young adults who isolate themselves.
- Her mother advocates for better mental health education to prevent similar tragedies in the future.