Horrified boyfriend watched on FaceTime as schoolgirl hanged herself in dorm at £30,000-a-year private school
A HORRIFIED boyfriend watched on FaceTime as a schoolgirl tried to hang herself in her dorm at a £30,000-a-year private school.
Joy Chan, 18, was found alone and unconscious in her room at Monmouth School for Girls in Wales while on the phone with her boyfriend.
The boyfriend, who was 6,000 miles away in Hong Kong, saw Joy trying to kill herself and immediately called the school to alert them while on the FaceTime call.
Staff members found the "bubbly" A-level pupil unconscious – and Joy was rushed to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny.
She sadly died four days later in hospital on 9 February last year, with her parents at her side.
The inquest in Newport heard Joy had been "grounded" after being caught buying the alcohol for younger under-age pupils.
Emma Butts, assistant house parent at the school, said: "I had to dial 999 for a girl who drank too much alcohol.
"Joy was suspended – it was explained to her that what she did was illegal and had consequences.
"Basically she was grounded in the boarding house – she was unhappy but she took it maturely."
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
Joy's school friend Maria Toma, who has a room opposite her, told the hearing in a written statement: "Every time I saw her she was smiling – she had a bubbly personality.
"But on a few occasions I heard Joy crying in her room, she would be arguing in Chinese and kicking things."
Joy, who was applying to go to university, had also done badly in a mock A-level economics exam and was "upset with herself."
PC Rebecca Hamilton told the hearing in a written statement: "Her boyfriend in Hong Kong was desperate after seeing Joy trying to hang herself on FaceTime."
Joy, whose Chinese name was Hei Tung Chan, was regarded as a "pupil of concern" with a record of self-harm at the school.
The 18-year-old had previously used a knife to cut her legs and held scissors to her own throat.
She filled in a questionnaire on her mental health before she died saying she was overwhelmed by her problems.
The pupil added that she was "unhappy most of the time."
Joy died at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny on 9 February last year, four days after she was found unconscious in her room.
The inquest continues.
Contact the Samaritans
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article contact The Samaritans on 116 123. They are available for free at anytime.
Or email https://www.samaritans.org/
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