Mother Fears That Her Scolding May Have Led Her Daughter to Hang Herself

A Chicago mother is grappling with the devastating loss of her 10-year-old daughter, Harmony Rose Washington, who tragically died by suicide in February. The fourth grader at Prairie Trails Elementary school took her own life just days after her birthday, leaving her family heartbroken and searching for answers.

Harmony’s mother, Mayolita Gaines, had been planning a birthday party for her daughter when she made the horrific discovery. Despite seven months having passed, Gaines continues to struggle with understanding her daughter’s actions and is plagued by questions about her mental health.

There were no apparent warning signs that Harmony, described as friendly and bubbly, was in distress. Gaines told the Chicago Tribune that her daughter had recently been scolded for disrespectful comments towards her uncle and was believed to be in her bedroom.

The tragedy unfolded around 9:20 PM when Gaines was on the phone with Harmony’s incarcerated father. Her other children began screaming for her, alerting her to the emergency. They had discovered Harmony’s lifeless body hanging from a tree outside their home.

As family members attempted to revive Harmony, Gaines called 911. Despite their efforts, Harmony was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Gaines is still searching for a reason behind her daughter’s tragic decision. She wonders if Harmony was struggling with her father’s incarceration, influenced by social media content, seeking attention, or experiencing bullying at school.

“It could be so many things I’ve thought about, but we’ll never know,” Gaines said. “As parents, we don’t know that we’re doing anything wrong. We think that everything is OK. I learn now that I try to not yell as much, because I know it may be a trigger to them.”

Harmony’s favorite subjects were math and swimming, and she loved the beach.

Dr. Aron Janssen, a psychiatrist at Lurie Children’s Hospital, emphasized the alarming rate of suicide among young children in Illinois. He noted that suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children aged 10-14 in the state.

Dr. Janssen attributed the crisis to a lack of research, funding, and infrastructure for mental health support for young children. He explained that many interventions and screening processes for suicide are designed for older adolescents and adults, making it difficult to identify and address mental health issues in younger children.

Additionally, Dr. Janssen highlighted the impulsive nature of suicide in young children. He stated that many children who die by suicide do not have long-term plans or intentions but are overwhelmed by momentary distress.