A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl from Santry is being praised for her bravery after speaking out openly and honestly about losing her father to suicide over three years ago.
Alex Morgan’s father, Andy, took his own life on New Year’s Eve 2010, devastating Alex, her sister Leanne (19), brother Charlie (8) and mum Joanne Featherstone.
Traumatised Joanne initially kept the details of Andy’s death a secret from her two youngest children, telling them he died of a heart attack, but eventually she found the courage to tell them the truth.
Alex is grateful for her mum’s honesty and has now decided to share her experience in the hope that other parents will be as open with their children when it comes to discussing suicide.
“My mam told me my dad died by suicide after a while and I was glad because I’d rather have known the truth,
? she says in an interview posted on YouTube last week.
During the heartbreaking interview the youngster speaks frankly about her father’s death, and how she’s learned to cope in the weeks, months and years afterwards.
She describes how she felt when it sunk in that her father had died.
“It was like a burning feeling inside,
? she recalls.
“I can remember walking in to the sitting room and I saw him lying in the coffin and I was really sad.
“I used to have this teddy, it was kinda’ big like a hippo, and whenever I had it around something good happened, so I put it in my dad’s grave, in his coffin, so that maybe when he’s up in Heaven he’d have good luck.
?
After initially sheltering Alex from the truth, Joanne realised that it would be better to tell her how Andy had really died. Alex had suspected something was being kept from her, but when she was told she only had one question, which sadly can never be fully answered.
“Why did he do it?
? she asked.
“I got angry with him. Like, how could you just leave your children and your wife like that?
?
With support from family, friends and the Andy Morgan Foundation set up in memory of her dad, Alex has learned to forgive her father and adjust to life without him.
“I miss him, but it’s OK,
? she says.
“When I go to the grave I don’t really feel sad, I feel kind of happy because it’s the closest I’m going to get to him.
?
Alex believes it’s important for children to be told the truth when a parent dies by suicide.
“I know it’s probably going to make your child even sadder but at least they know what happened and they’re not growing up living with a lie,
? she says.
She also has words of advice for any other youngsters who find themselves bereaved by a parent taking their own life.
“I know you’re going to be sad and all because it’s a big thing losing your mam or dad or anyone from suicide but there’s always going to be someone there for you,
? she says.
“You don’t have to cry on your own. If you want to cry, cry with somebody and don’t keep it bottled up inside of you.
?
Alex’s brave interview went viral on YouTube last week and her story was also trending on social media sites filled with people paying tribute to her bravery by posting thumbs-up selfies under the #supportalex hashtag.