Heartbreaking details continue to emerge from the tragic incident that unfolded Tuesday afternoon in Ilioupoli, when two high school girls and close friends jumped from the rooftop of a six-story apartment building. The news has shaken the entire country, with early findings pointing to a premeditated act, as police are seriously investigating the possibility of a joint suicide.

Medical Bulletin: One Girl Fighting for Her Life at KAT

Michalis Giannakos, president of POEDIN (the Federation of Public Hospital Employees), spoke to Mega TV about the condition of the surviving girl: “Today was a very bad day. The two girls were brought in by EKAV, one deceased and the other in very serious condition, and were transferred to Asklepieio Voulas. There, even though one child was already gone, doctors spent over an hour attempting CPR, doing everything possible to bring her back. Unfortunately, they did not succeed. The other child they tried to stabilize hemodynamically; she was intubated and placed in resuscitation, and is now in critical condition. Negotiations are underway between hospitals to determine whether the child needs to be transferred for surgery. At this moment she is in resuscitation and intubated. She is not able to be operated on right now because she is hemodynamically unstable, but efforts are being made to stabilize her and determine whether surgery will take place at Asklepieio or at another more specialized hospital.”

According to the director of Asklepieio Voulas Hospital, Emilios Vougiouklakis, the girls were brought in at 12:30 p.m.

• The first 16-year-old arrived in cardiac arrest. Despite intensive resuscitation efforts lasting over an hour, her death was confirmed.
• The second 16-year-old was immediately intubated and her condition was classified as “extremely critical.” Given the severity of her injuries, she was transferred to KAT Hospital.

The Hospital’s Official Statement

“Today at exactly 12:30 and 12:32 p.m., two young Greek girls, both 16 years old, arrived at our Emergency Department via EKAV. They were immediately admitted to the resuscitation room, where intensive resuscitation efforts and imaging examinations were carried out. The first was intubated and her condition is classified as extremely critical; every effort continues to be made to treat her. For this reason it was decided to transfer her to the on-call hospital, specifically KAT. The second, who arrived in cardiac arrest, despite continuous and intensive efforts lasting over an hour, unfortunately did not recover, and her death was confirmed. Psychiatric and psychological support and assistance is being provided to the families.”

The Rooftop Key and the Farewell Note

Police are focusing their investigation on how the two girls gained access to the rooftop. Witness accounts indicate they asked the building’s property manager for the key. The building was home to one of the two girls.

Officers believe the minors deliberately isolated themselves to prevent any intervention by residents before the act. They locked the door behind them, put on headphones and jumped.

Inside the backpack of the girl who lost her life, investigators found a handwritten note. In it, the 16-year-old explained the reasons behind her decision, focusing on depression and the overwhelming anxiety over her future, weighed down by the upcoming national university entrance exams. She wrote that she had been suffering from depression for the past three years. “Mom, Dad… this world is no longer for me,” she reportedly wrote, adding about the exam pressure: “I’ll end up in a job that won’t pay me enough. Nothing makes me happy anymore.”

The Loss of a Father and a Witness Account

The second 16-year-old, who is fighting for her life, is reported to have been deeply affected by the recent death of her father.

An eyewitness described the terrifying moments: “There was a long scream and then a loud thud. The girl’s brother came downstairs. I tried to talk to her, to keep her eyes open until EKAV arrived. She seemed to be aware of what was happening.”

Both families are receiving psychiatric and psychological support from hospital staff.

When the Pressure Becomes Unbearable

The farewell note left behind by the 16-year-old speaks volumes about a generation navigating an increasingly difficult landscape. The Greek national university entrance exams, known as the Panellinies, cast a long shadow over the final years of high school. For many students, they represent a single, defining moment that feels as though it will determine their entire future, from career prospects to financial stability and social standing. The weight of that expectation, felt acutely at 16, can be crushing.

But exam stress is only part of a broader picture. Today’s teenagers grow up in a world of relentless comparison, much of it playing out on social media, where curated images of success, happiness and belonging are constantly on display. Rising job insecurity and the erosion of traditional support structures add further layers of anxiety. Many young people internalize a quiet but persistent sense that no matter how hard they try, it may never be enough.

Mental health professionals have long warned that adolescent depression is underdiagnosed and undertreated, often dismissed as moodiness or growing pains. Teenagers rarely have the language to name what they are feeling, and the stigma around seeking help remains significant in many families and school environments. When pain goes unspoken and unaddressed for years, as this girl’s note suggests was the case, the consequences can be catastrophic.

This tragedy is a reminder that academic performance and life outcomes, however important they may seem, cannot come at the cost of a young person’s wellbeing. Listening, asking hard questions and creating space for teenagers to be honest about their struggles are not optional. They are urgent

Suicide Prevention Helpline

If you or someone you know is in distress, please call the 24-hour Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1018. The call is anonymous and free.