Helena Belmonte Dead: Latest News is That Filipino Model Had Bipolar Disorder — (The Epoch Times)

SSRI Ed note: Young woman, long-term antidepressant user, drinks alcohol, dies by suicide. Mental illness blamed.

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The Epoch Times  ASIA & PACIFIC

BY ZACHARY STIEBER

March 21, 2014 Updated: July 18, 2015

Helena Belmonte, also known as Helena Bautista, had bipolar disorder, her godmother said in a television interview after Belmonte was found dead on Thursday.

The Filipino model committed suicide, leaping from her 28th floor apartment in a Pasig condominium.

A police officer told the Philippine Inquirer that police have ruled out foul play and are sure that it is a suicide case.

The tragedy left Belmonte’s boyfriend traumatized and crying a lot, the officer said.

“Her boyfriend was crying hard. He was so traumatized that we were not able to get clear statements about what happened,” the officer, Lawrence Punzalan, said.

Before the suicide, which happened at about 1:30 a.m., Belmonte had gone to a party with her boyfriend and  female friend.

Belmonte bade goodbye to the pair and was left alone at her apartment. When the pair returned, they found her dead.

Belmonte’s godmother, Sari Yap, said Friday that Belmonte had been suffering from mental illness since she was seven years old, and may have mixed her anti-depressant medicine in with alcohol the night before the incident.

“She was posting on Instagram that she was depressed,” Yap said. “What was wrong was she should not have mixed anti-depressants with alcohol.”

Local celebrities have been mourning Belmonte.

“Your light will forever shine bright in our hearts. LA memories we will never ever forget,” wrote actress Antoinette Taus. “Rest in peace beautiful one. #gonetoosoon.”

Follow Zachary on Twitter: @zackstieber