Tragic waste of two lives which is sure to scar many others

AS the song says, “Love hurts” and, in extreme cases, the pain is so bad there seems no way out other than ending it all.

This week saw two utterly tragic cases of girls who couldn’t face living on their own without the person they adored.

Fragile Cathriona White took her own life after splitting up with her partner, actor Jim Carrey and teenager Rebecca Berry died after setting herself on fire when she was dumped by her boyfriend. She was just 15 years old. Obviously both of them were in a highly distraught state of mind but it’s those left behind who have to somehow live with the guilt and try to pick up the pieces.

Cathriona, right, a 30-year-old make-up artist originally from Ireland, met Carrey when she was working in LA and they started going out three years ago.

They broke up a couple of times and earlier this week she was found dead after a suspected drug overdose.

Now her friends and family and torturing themselves because they feel they should have prevented her suicide.

She posted a final tweet saying “Signing off Twitter. Hope I have been a shining light to my nearest and dearest”, but no one realised that this was a sign that she planned to kill herself.

Poor young Rebecca posted suicidal texts to her boyfriend but he apparently ignored them because she had made similar threats before. She set herself on fire in a den in her garden and died from inhaling toxic fumes. Her poor mother found her daughter’s body and her grief and suffering must be unimaginable.

Rebecca’s boyfriend, who cannot be named, must also be eaten up with guilt and grief and wishing things could have been different.

At the inquest into her death this week, the coroner ruled that Rebecca’s actions were a cry for help and that she didn’t actually mean to kill herself.

So many lives have been shattered and such deep grief caused by both of these separate, desperate acts.

Unless you have an incurable illness or you are living in unbearable pain and just want an end to your suffering, suicide is always going to leave those left behind with an overwhelming burden of guilt and pain.

It’s such a tragic waste of two lives and the ripple effects will be felt by everyone who loved them.