Yocheved Gourarie scheduled the post to go up the day after she took her own life
A 24-year-old woman scheduled an Instagram post to go live the day after she took her own life. Yocheved Gourarie, from New York City, died on Tuesday afternoon after jumping from the Vessel in Hudson Yards.
“If you’re reading this, I’m gone,” Gourarie wrote in the post, which invited readers to sit down before reading its “sensitive” and “shocking” content. “Either that, or (I’m) somehow incapacitated in the hospital so I can’t delete this scheduled post. I really hope I’m not though.”
“None of you could have done anything – or done more – to prevent this from happening,” Gourarie added. “Your support, your encouragement, your hugs, your invitations, your smiles, your texts, your tagging me in memes you think I’d find funny… you all did your absolute best and for that I am eternally grateful. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing I am no longer in pain.”
The 24-year-old, who had previously shared information on her profile about struggles with anorexia and depression, doesn’t go into detail as to why she decided to end her life, but says she scheduled a note to go to her parents posthumously. “If they choose to share or publish it you may be privy to more insight. I will leave that choice up to them.”
On Wednesday, her father posted in the comments – of which there are now more than 2,000 – to thank those sharing messages of support. “I just want to say thanks to all who wrote here. Your kind words mean a lot to my family.”
He paid tribute to his daughter on his own Instagram, thanking her for being supportive of his “musical accomplishments and struggles.” He added: “Our unique musical connection will never be replaced. But I hope, as I’m certain you would want to see happen, to grow and explore, compose and arrange more than I ever did.”
If you’re struggling with mental health issues, you can contact the suicide prevention specialists Samaritans in the UK here, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the US here.