Depressed Mom Jumps From 19th Floor Apartment Holding Two Kids, All 3 Dead

A woman and her two young children died after she jumped from her 19th-floor apartment holding the kids in her arms.

The incident took place in Moscow on Monday. The woman, identified as 34-year-old Olga Zharkova, leaped almost 200 feet from the high-rise building with her 3-year-old toddler and 1-month-old baby. All three were pronounced dead at the scene, Brink Wire reported.

Investigators believe the woman was suffering from acute postnatal depression. They recovered a note written by the woman that said she did not want to leave her two kids in this "hard, gloomy world."

"She complained to her acquaintances that she had postnatal depression. She felt lonely and tired," a law enforcement source said, Today UK News reported.

Zharkova was the wife of a Russian military officer. She had reportedly complained to her friends that her husband was away from home for long periods due to his military duties. Her husband was treated for a shock when he arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, the Russian Investigative Committee is investigating the incident and a "postmortem psychiatric analysis" will be conducted on the woman.

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that parents experience after having a baby. It affects one in every 10 women within a year of giving birth and can also affect fathers.

People battling postnatal depression may suffer from anxiety, panic attacks and psychosis. Other symptoms include feelings of sadness, lack of energy, trouble sleeping at night, difficulty in bonding with the child and problems in decision making. With the right support from family, a person with this condition can make a full recovery.

Last year, a mother in India's northern city of Greater Noida threw her 4-year-old son from her 17th-floor apartment before jumping to her death. They were rushed to a local hospital where they were declared dead on arrival. Investigation revealed that the woman took the extreme step following a dispute with family members.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.