‘I had her right in front of me. And now she’s gone’: how one mother lost her daughter to mental illness

Naina Mishra, a bright young woman with aspirations of becoming a CEO, studied in London before securing a prestigious job in New York. She appeared focused and had a clear vision for her future, including marriage and children. Naina arrived in London in January 2022 and began attending a yoga studio daily. Her yoga teachers noted her dedication and her explicit goals for success. They learned she had recently graduated from a US university and had interned at prominent firms like Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. Naina was preparing to start a new role as a business analyst at McKinsey in New York. She expressed a strong desire for achievement and a structured life path. In May 2022, she departed London to commence this new phase of her career. Her story, however, hints at a more complex reality beyond these initial observations. The narrative suggests a potential underlying vulnerability despite her outward success.