A devastated young father of three took his own life on accounts of the breakup of his family. Brieze Montiero, aged 31, committed suicide in his flat in Perth on Monday having not seen his sons aged 11 and 12, and nine-year-old daughter since Christmas.
'He felt like he had lost everything and was living a nightmare that was never going to end,' his grieving mother Beverley said.
Brieze Montiero, 31, was so heartbroken by the breakup of his family that he snuck out of a hospital and took his own life
Two weeks before his death, Mr. Montiero had crafted a series of late-night messages to his new girlfriend Sarah Smith giving her detailed instructions on his funeral wishes and begged her not to tell anyone that he planned to kill himself.
His death has highlighted the increased risk of suicide among men following relationship breakdowns. New research by Griffith University indicates that more than 60 percent of male suicides are connected to breakups.
Two weeks earlier he sent a series of messages to his new girlfriend Sarah Smith (left) with instructions on what to do after his death
Ms. Bell said that her son was previously married but separated with his wife a year ago when he returned home from his job on an oil rig.
'He worked extra to pay for a new pool for his kids. He got back on New Year's Day,' she said.
'It crushed him. He tried to work on it, but not even a month later he tried to kill himself.'
Mr. Montiero survived the fatal attempt on his own life after spending days in the ICU. With several months of depression therapy, he was finally able to move on and even found love with Ms. Smith in mid-2018; finally enjoying life again.
The messages gave her instructions for his funeral and begging her not to tell anyone he planned to kill himself
However, the joy was short-lived as he became despondent about how little time he was able to spend with his kids as a result of his failed marriage.
On January, while he was away working, he emailed his ex-wife to begin divorce proceedings as he was about to move in with Ms. Smith.
On January 28, he sent a series of scary messages declaring that he was going to commit suicide after seeing his kids for the last time.'Once I say goodbye to my kids I'm gone, can't take the pain,' he wrote at 3.41am.
Mr Montiero became despondent about how little time he was able to spend with his children as a result of his marriage breaking down
Ms. Smith sent Ms. Bell the messages, the worried mother spoke of her pain and fears for her son on social media.
'Parents of adult children who do have a suicidal child, my heart bleeds for you. The pain of waiting for the phone call is unbearable,' she wrote.
Mr Montiero begged Ms Smith not to tell anyone he planned to kill himself until he saw his children one last time, but he never got the chance
On February 6, Mr. Monteiro got home safely and on the morning of the day he dies, sent a series of messages to Ms. Smith as if to say his last words.
The worried Ms. Smith told him that she would tell his parents what he was saying if he didn’t stop sending the scary messages and reassure her that he wouldn’t do anything stupid.
But this made Mr. Montiero send even darker messages saying; ‘I won’t be sleeping tonight, not in this world. Sorry for ruining your life.’
The last message prompted Ms. Smith to contact her boyfriend’s parents asking for help, after which Ms. Bell called triple-o and emergency services who found him and took him to the hospital.
Ms. Bell, pleaded with the police in rural WA and the hospital staff to keep an eye on him, concerned that he might sneak away and harm himself.
Mr Montiero sent Ms Smith a series of Facebook messages as if to say goodbye on the morning of the day he died
An attending psychiatrist saw him at about 5 pm and recommended that he be hospitalized. Sadly, there were no beds available in the psychiatry ward that day so he would be forced to wait in the triage overnight.
'The police took his restraints off and left and he went outside for a cigarette, but then he came back, took his clothes, and left,' she said.
'He called his kids to say goodbye and no one ever heard from him again.'A frantic search by the police led them to his apartment but sadly, they were too late.
Ms Smith got increasingly worried and told him she would tell his parents what he was saying if he didn't stop and reassure her he wouldn't do anything stupid
On Wednesday, Ms. Bell drove six hours to collect his son’s body and organize his funeral with his sister scheduled to arrive on Friday from the U.S.
'I don't think it's properly hit me yet that he's gone, and won't until I see his body. I still feel like he's just away at work and will come back,' she said.
Ms Smith (left) sent his mother the messages, who arranged for emergency services to intervene
After his death, Ms. Bell shared a touching tribute to his late son, apologizing for not being able to mend his broken heart.
'You were my one and only son. You were precious, loved, adored by so many people. I'm so sorry your kids now have to deal with this pain,' she wrote.
'Your Dad, your sister, myself and your beautiful children will miss your voice, your laughter, your trying to sing, we will remember your smile.
'I am sorry we couldn't fix the damage that was done. Sleep my boy child, rest, you gave your all, no one will ever say your heart was not full of love, you will be my first thought in the morning and last thought at night.'
After a frantic search, sparked by Ms Smith and Ms Bell, Mr Montiero was found dead
The distraught Ms. Bell also penned a heartfelt tribute mourning all the memories she shared with her son and those they never got to make.
'Words cannot even begin to explain how heartbroken I am. You quickly became my whole world and the love of my life,' she wrote.
'You made me feel so happy and I will forever be grateful for all of the amazing memories we got to share together.
Ms Bell (pictured with her son) drove six hours to Perth to collect her son's body and organise his funeral
'You never failed to put a smile on my face. I will forever love you Brieze and will hold you in my heart for the rest of my life.
'Although we weren't together for that long, it had been the best 6 months of my life and I will forever be thankful that you showed me I could love again.
'We had such big plans for the future and I was so excited to show you what true love felt like and to start a family together so that you could get the life you always deserved.
'I wish this was all just a bad dream. Rest In Peace Brieze, I hope that one day I will get to see you again.'
Ms Smith wrote a heartfelt tribute mourning the life together they never got to have
Pete Nicholls, chief executive of parents beyond breakup said men after a breakup are
at biggest risk of suicide.
'Feelings of isolation and hopelessness are two of the biggest drivers of suicide, and you often get both at once in a breakup,' he said.
'They've lost their partner and home at once and usually aren't able to see their children very much.'
Glen Poole, Australian Men’s Health Forum chief executive said that the majority of suicidal cases among men stemmed from life events as opposed to mental health conditions.
'Men often feel shame and grief from their relationship failing and worry about what it will mean for the relationship with their children,' he said.
'It's like a living bereavement - they have gone from living with them and seeing them every day too often long periods with little contact.
'Men feel a lack of control over their lives and of how much they will be able to see the most important people in their life (their children) - it's a rollercoaster.'
Mr. Poole said men feared to get help because of a legitimate worry that any mental health history could hurt them in custody proceedings.
'Sometimes it's just too much for them to cope with and men are very solution-based and either can't see a way out of their situation or see suicide as the best option,' he said.
'Often they see it as a selfless act because they feel like a burden, but they need to realize they are valued and needed.'
