A migrant mother of two who recently arrived in the Big Apple committed suicide in a city homeless shelter Sunday and her body was reportedly discovered by her teen son.
The tragedy was revealed Monday by Mayor Eric Adams, who only disclosed the woman was a mother.
A senior law enforcement source told NBC 4 that the woman and her two kids, a 15-year-old boy and 7-year-old daughter, came from Colombia and arrived in the city last May.
The woman’s husband was separated from the rest of the family at the border and failed repeatedly to get into the US and reunite with them in New York City, the station reported.
The mother and her children had been living in Hollis Family Shelter in Queens, according to NBC 4.
“The thousands of asylum seekers we have seen arrive in our city came to this country seeking a better life. Sadly, though, yesterday, an asylum seeker in one of our facilities took her own life,” Adams said in a Monday statement.
“Our hearts break for this young woman and any loved ones she may have, and we as a city mourn her.”
No other details were made immediately available by city officials.
A spokeswoman for the Coalition for The Homeless — the civil rights group tasked with oversight of the Department of Homeless Services under the city’s decades-old right-to-shelter legal settlement — said earlier Monday it had not yet been notified of the death.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.