Woman who is paralyzed after suicide attempt shares warning signs of mental health struggles

A ‘picture-perfect American girl’ who tried to kill herself at age 16 has shared the warning signs of hidden mental health struggles – five years after she narrowly survived a suicide attempt, which left her paralyzed from the neck down.

When she was in high school, Emma Benoit, now 21, from Louisiana, appeared as happy as could be on the outside. She was a varsity cheerleader, and described herself as ‘picture-perfect American girl.’

However, on the inside, she was struggling with severe anxiety and depression – but she kept her issues a secret from everyone around her.

The then-teen said ‘no one ever addressed mental health’ with her so she ‘didn’t even have the language to discuss what she was experiencing.’

A woman who tried to kill herself at age 16 shared the warning signs of depression – five years after she narrowly survived a suicide attempt, which left her paralyzed from the neck down

When she was in high school, Emma Benoit, now 21, from Louisiana, appeared as happy as could be on the outside, with her describing herself as ‘picture-perfect American girl’

However, on the inside, she was struggling with severe anxiety and depression – but she kept her issues a secret from everyone around her

In June 2017, when she was 16, she attempted to end her own life, which resulted in her being paralyzed from the neck down, suffering from numerous strokes, and developing blood clots in her brain.

The then-teen (pictured as a kid) said ‘no one ever addressed mental health’ with her so she ‘didn’t even have the language to discuss what she was experiencing’

Now, she is sharing her story in the hopes of helping others and ending the stigma around mental illness. 

During a recent essay for the Today show, Emma said she was plagued with anxiety and depression from a young age.

‘The two felt constant in my life for five to six years,’ she told the outlet. ‘I never said anything because I didn’t know what I was feeling.

‘I had such little exposure to mental health that I didn’t even have the language to discuss what I was experiencing. 

‘No one ever addressed mental health with me until after it was too late. I also had this sense that sharing dark feelings came with a stigma. So I kept quiet.’

Keeping her struggles inside left Emma feeling ‘isolated and alone,’ and wondering if something was wrong with her.

She said she believed that therapy was ‘for people with more serious problems than hers,’ adding that the ‘lack of conversation about mental health’ factored into her attempting to take her own life. 

However, in the end, Emma said the ‘overwhelming feeling of hopelessness’ was what led to her trying suicide, with her adding, ‘I wanted my pain to end.’

 Keeping her struggles inside left Emma feeling ‘isolated and alone,’ with her adding that the ‘lack of conversation about mental health’ factored into her attempting to take her own life

In June 2017, when Emma was 16, she attempted to end her own life, which resulted in her being paralyzed, suffering from numerous strokes, and developing blood clots in her brain

Emma said that ‘almost immediately,’ she regretted what she had done and realized that she ‘truly did not want to die’

Emma said that ‘almost immediately,’ she regretted what she had done and realized that she ‘truly did not want to die.’

And while she survived the suicide attempt, the former cheerleader was left with serious injuries, which made her paralyzed from the neck down.

The high schooler also experienced several blood clots in her brain which led to a ‘series of strokes and cognitive issues.’ 

She began physical therapy, and had to ‘relearn’ how to ‘care for herself’ without the use of her limbs. 

Emma recalled struggling to come to terms with what she did while also regaining her strength, telling the outlet, ‘I felt like both a victim and the perpetrator at the same time. 

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‘I had this challenging injury that required me to relearn much of how I did things. But I’m the one who inflicted it on me.’

Through speech, occupational, and physical therapy, Emma was able to regain 80 per cent of her abilities.

‘[Now], I do use a wheelchair at times. I can now walk and drive and experience some sensation in my limbs and torso,’ she revealed. ‘But the nerves in my left hand were severed, so I can’t use those fingers very well.’

And while she survived the suicide attempt, the former cheerleader was left with serious injuries, which made her paralyzed from the neck down. She is seen with her boyfriend

Through speech, occupational, and physical therapy, Emma was able to regain 80 per cent of her abilities

She then started to focus on her mental health. She was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and said it felt ‘groundbreaking’ for her to have a name for what she was feeling

After improving her physical strength, it was time for her to focus on her mental health. She began therapy, and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, which felt ‘groundbreaking’ for her.

‘I now had words to describe what I experienced. But it also made it feel more real,’ she said.

‘While that could feel scary, it also felt empowering because it felt like something I could work with. 

‘The therapists I met made it clear that I could successfully receive treatment and live with mental illness. It gave me hope and perspective that I had been lacking.’

Before her suicide attempt, Emma said her life appeared ‘picture-perfect’ to outsiders, and that ‘no one expected’ her to try to end her own life – which is why she thinks it’s important to share her story.

Emma – who was featured in a documentary, entitled My Ascension – explained that she is now ‘on a mission’ to raise awareness and ‘open up conversations about mental health.’

She added: ‘I hope [my story] encourages other people who are struggling to be vulnerable with a loved one. 

‘I want them to understand they are not alone and there is help – and that you can overcome your mental health challenges and thrive. 

‘I do wish someone would have talked to me about my feelings so that I didn’t feel alone and struggle so much.’

Emma (pictured as a child) explained that she is now ‘on a mission’ to raise awareness and ‘open up conversations about mental health’

She also shared some of the warning signs she saw in herself looking back, which included suddenly losing interest in cheerleading and hanging out with new people

‘I hope that parents start bringing up mental health and make sure their children know that if they face difficulties, they can talk,’ Emma (pictured with her boyfriend) concluded

She also shared some of the warning signs she saw in herself looking back, in the hopes of possibly helping others realize there is a problem before it’s too late. 

‘I want parents to recognize the warning signs in their children,’ she concluded. ‘Looking back, the biggest signal that something was wrong was when I skipped a cheerleading tryout.

‘After a lifetime of loving the sport, I simply stopped caring. I began hanging out with new friends that I otherwise wouldn’t have befriended.

‘I became angered easily and often felt frustrated – both huge character shifts for me.

‘I encourage parents to err on the side of caution. If their teen starts acting differently or suddenly becomes uninterested in something they once loved, ask them about it.

‘It might be nothing. But if it’s something, that conversation could be the start of a dialogue that could lead to them getting help that they need. 

‘I hope that parents start bringing up mental health and make sure their children know that if they face difficulties, they can talk to their parents. I didn’t know that mental health was something I could discuss.’

For confidential support, call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255