A bright future turned to heartbreak when 25-year-old Naina Mishra’s life was cut short by severe mental illness. Once a top student with jobs lined up at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey, Naina began showing signs of paranoia and withdrawing from loved ones. “She was right in front of me… and now she’s gone,” her mother Vandana said.

Over two years, Naina cut off contact, changed phone numbers, and told friends her mother had died. Her behavior grew erratic — making lavish purchases, believing strangers were spies, and expressing fear of being kidnapped. Despite her mother’s desperate search, privacy laws and estrangement kept them apart. In October 2024, Vandana finally reunited with her daughter, hoping to get her treatment. Days later, Naina took her own life.

Vandana now shares her story to raise awareness about recognizing psychosis early. “At every point, someone could have helped,” she said. Her plea is simple: more education, compassion, and understanding could save lives. Mental illness can hide in plain sight — and ignoring it can cost everything.