THE parents of a popular uni student who killed herself after leaving gifts for her family, have shared her tragic suicide note one year on.

Madison Holleran, 19, committed suicide in Philadelphia in January 2014 because she was overwhelmed by her intense Ivy League schoolwork.

The University of Pennsylvania student left a note which her dad has only now shared to help people battling depression.

“I thought how unpleasant it is to be locked out, and I thought how it is worse perhaps to be locked in,” Madison wrote in her note left alongside presents for her family.

“For you mom ... the necklaces ... For you, Nana & Papa ... Gingersnaps (always reminds me of you) ... For you Ingrid ... The Happiness Project. And Dad ... the Godiva chocolate truffles. I love you all ... I’m sorry. I love you.”

TRAGIC DEATH: UPenn student killed herself over uni stress

media_camera Father’s love ... Madison Holleran with her father, Jim. Picture: Facebook/In Memory of Madison Holleran

Holleran’s tragic death caused shock waves in her home town of New Jersey as she was a gifted track star and regularly shared optimistic pictures and messages on social media.

The teen’s heartbroken father, 62-year-old Jim Holleran, said he shared his daughter’s suicide note a year after her death as a cautionary tale for families in a similar position.

“I don’t think she realised how awful it would be for us to not have her around,“ Mr Holleran told People magazine.

“Parents, if you see a huge change in your child and you haven’t discussed suicide with them, open that discussion up.”

He said his daughter was such a perfectionist, she left a first draft of the suicide note in her dorm room.

“I don’t know who I am anymore. trying. trying. trying,” the note said. “I’m sorry. I love you ... sorry again ... sorry again ... sorry again ... How did this happen?’

media_camera Madison Holleran was a gifted athlete. Picture: Facebook/In Memory of Madison Holleran media_camera Madison Holleran with her mother Stacy. Picture: Facebook/In Memory of Madison Holleran

Mr Holleran and his wife Stacy started The Madison Holleran Foundation in their daughter’s honour to help students who might be depressed or suicidal.

A Facebook page has also been set up in her memory where stories of young people struggling with depression are shared.

A month before Holleran took her life, she shared her suicidal thoughts with her parents and was seeing a therapist.

About an hour before her death, she posted a photograph of the sunset over Rittenhouse Square to her Instagram account.

Holleran competed for the UPenn cross-country and track teams, and as an Allendale high-schooler she won the 800-metre New Jersey state championship. She had three sisters — aged 26, 20, and 16 — and a 15-year-old brother.

The picture Holleran posted an hour before jumping

Anyone experiencing stress or feeling in need of support should call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide: What they would say Support group members share what they would tell lost loved ones. An investigation into suicide contagion, by Trent Dalton, runs in The Weekend Australian Magazine.

Originally published as Madison: ‘I love you all. I’m sorry’