Note: Details of this story can be problematic for some people.

A couple and their three children were found dead in a flat in Karachi’s Shahrah-e-Faisal area on Monday, police said as the bodies were sent for post-mortem examination to the Jinnah hospital.

The deceased children were minors, they added.

The shocking incident occurred in the Falaknaz Apartment which falls in the jurisdiction of the Airport police station. Resident Ahsan Raza Rizvi killed his three children and wife Nida Rizvi, police added.

Earlier in the day, a body was found hanging from a pedestrian bridge in Islamabad sector I-9. The sight of the body hanging amid dense fog made for a grim scene.

The investigation was under way, police said and claimed that the three children and the woman were killed in bed. Police have taken a 30-bore pistol into their custody. They also found bullet shells from the site.

An initial report said that all five members of the family were killed after taking poison.

“We have found a suicide note as part of the prima facie evidence,” Malir SSP Tariq Ilahi Mastoi said and alleged that Ahsan first killed his wife and children before committing suicide.

Police also found a suicide note on the site. It mentioned a laptop on which he had also written a message.

So far, they have found that Ahsan used to do garments business and was tense for the past three to four months after his business ended.

According to neighbours, the bread earner of the family was facing financial issues. The preliminary investigation showed that there were stab wounds on the bodies of the children.

SHO Irfan said that they were informed about bodies through the helpline 15. While citing one of the neighbours, he said that the man was unemployed for the past two to four months.

What to do if someone exhibits intent of self-harm

Anxiety and depression is the bane of modern life. But help is just around the corner. If you …

• Are feeling depressed
• Are feeling stressed because of your challenging work environment
• Are suffering from anxiety due to another physical illness
• Have recently been diagnosed with a mental illness
• Your doctor has suggested you to seek counseling
• Feel that no one understands you

You can get in touch with the following mental health helplines and speak to them.

• Umang 0317 4288665
• Umang 0311-7786264
• Mind Organisation 042 35761999
• Talk2me.pk 0333 4065139
• Baat Karo 0335 5743344
• Taskeen 0332 5267936
• Rooh 0333 3337664
• Rozan 0800-22444
• OpenCounseling 042 35761999

Here’s what you should do if someone you know exhibits signs of suicide or a tendency to isolate or self-harm:

• Try to make sure they are not left alone

• Remove any objects they could use to harm themselves.

• Take or encourage the person to seek help from a medical or mental health professional