Police are investigating the suspected suicide of 26-year-old accountant and former Miss Universe Jamaica contestant Tyra Spaulding, whose body was discovered at her home on Tuesday evening.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Corporate Communications Network (CCN) confirmed that Spaulding was found around 6:55 p.m. with a curtain around her neck. Relatives reportedly made the discovery and alerted authorities.
Spaulding competed in the 2023 Miss Universe Jamaica pageant and was known for her advocacy on mental health and suicide prevention. Friends and colleagues told local media they had grown concerned in recent weeks after a series of troubling social media posts.
In an August 15 Instagram post, Spaulding wrote that she was “going through hell.” Two weeks ago, she posted a video on her YouTube channel titled Don’t Be Sad, in which she described daily battles with suicidal thoughts. “I’m fighting for my life… my mind is trying to kill me,” she said in the video, adding that part of her wanted to live while another part wanted to die.
Her death comes as Jamaica grapples with a steady rise in suicide cases. According to Jamaica Constabulary Force data cited by the Jamaica Observer, the country recorded 67 suicide deaths in 2024, the highest total in nearly 25 years. The numbers have climbed for four consecutive years, up from 43 in 2020. Men make up the vast majority of victims; of the 67 deaths last year, 61 were men.
While Jamaica’s suicide rate—estimated at roughly 2.1 to 2.4 per 100,000 people—remains below the global average of about 9 per 100,000, health officials warn that the upward trend is troubling. Surveys show nearly one in four Jamaican teenagers has seriously considered suicide.
Authorities continue to probe Spaulding’s death.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call the Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Helpline at 888-NEW-LIFE (639-5433), the Safe Spot initiative at 888-723-3776 or WhatsApp 876-439-5199, or the U-Matter chat line at 876-838-4897. The CPFSA Child Protection Hotline can also be reached at 211.
