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Woman's harrowing note before suicide while parents on holiday

A young woman left a devastating note in her bedroom for her parents before she tragically took her own life.

According to an inquest into the July 2020 death, Ruby Leaity, 23, made a last-minute decision to stay home while her parents went on holiday.

Her parents returned to the home in Southampton, on the UK's south coast, five days later and discovered their daughter had taken her life, The Sun reported.

A selfie of Ruby Leaity who left a devastating note to her parents before taking her own life.
Ruby Leaity left a note in her bedroom for her parents before she took her own life. Source: Facebook

The inquest heard she had been struggling with the coronavirus lockdown and had lost her job just weeks before her tragic death.

Police Constable Hamish Kemish told the inquest she had left a note in her bedroom for her parents to find when they returned from their five-day holiday.

"This was no one's fault but my own, please wear red," the devastating note said, according to The Sun.

Her mother, Mary, said her daughter was originally going on the holiday with her parents, but decided at the last minute to stay home.

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"We had never left her on her own before. It was only for five days but she got more anxious when we went away," she said.

"I was really worried, I can remember thinking she is an adult and we cannot stay with her forever, we cannot mind her forever, she is home and safe.

"We spoke every day while we were away, I last spoke to her at 5.30pm the night before I found her, she was asking when we were getting home and she sounded okay."

Friend's heartfelt tribute in wake of death

The inquest was told Ruby had depression and anxiety for the last 10 years, and had previously attempted to take her life, The Sun reported.

Her mother added Ruby had recently been fired from her job as she had missed meetings to attend appointments for her mental health.

She said her daughter "struggled badly" since the lockdown and the death of the family's dog, who had "very much been a companion for her throughout her hardest times".

Ruby Leaity is pictured with a pet.
Ruby had struggled with depression and anxiety for 10 years. Source: Facebook

A GoFundMe page set up by friend Matt Cutting in the wake of her death had raised almost $20,000 at the time of writing.

"Ruby was the kindest, most caring and beautiful human to walk this earth. She put everyone else's feelings before her own and because of the above she was loved by so many," the page says.

"She was always the first person to be there for everyone she knew, through thick and thin, no matter what the situation was."

Mr Cutting added Ruby could no longer "cope with life's demons".

The money raised will go towards mental health charity Mind.

"Too many people suffer with mental health issues... it is time to do something about it, so they get the support they need and deserve. They need to know they are not alone," he said.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

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