The heartbroken mum of a West Belfast teenager who took her own life in Beechcroft mental health unit has said that she is "living minute by minute" as she grieves for her daughter.
Annaleece McAlorum passed away on April 8, 2022, at just 17 years old after having been admitted to the mental health unit in South Belfast.
She had been on the ward a number of times prior after developing mental health problems at the age of 10 as she struggled to cope with childhood trauma.
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Her mother Sharon O'Connor says that she is still struggling to come to terms with her daughter's passing and feels let down by the lack of communication from the Belfast Trust since and that it took nearly a year for anyone from the unit to contact her to offer support.
She also said she was very disappointed that an investigation into Annaleece's death had commenced without her knowledge.
Sharon said: "This past year has been horrendous and I am still trying to come to terms with Annaleece's death because I am just not ready to say goodbye to her yet.
"I feel like I am just existing and am trying to cope with life minute by minute because she is on my mind every second of the day.
"She was our little whirlwind and even though she was struggling mentally, she was such a kind and caring girl with the most amazing heart who always looked out for others and would go out of her way to help a friend. We used to call her Taz because of how she flew about the place.
"Since her passing I have received dozens of messages from friends of hers who she supported in Beechcroft and outside the ward which have really touched me and show what a caring girl she was, who would always think of others before herself.
"So much more should have been done to protect her when she was on that ward and I know that she should still be here with us today."
Annaleece was first admitted to Beechcroft when she was 13 years old and Sharon says that since then her mental health deteriorated with her beginning to express this in more and more extreme ways.
Sharon continued: "Something needs to be done urgently in order to make sure that no other child is able to take their own life or injury themselves and I am terrified of the thought that another family could be put in the same position as me, grieving for their child."
An investigation into Annaleece's death is now taking place, however Sharon says that she was only made aware of it this week despite being told that she would be informed throughout the process.
She said: "It has taken almost a year for anyone at the unit to contact me and offer support and I was shocked to hear that an investigation into her death is already underway, despite them telling me that I would be kept informed of everything relating to her passing.
"I know that it will be very difficult for me to hear about what had happened leading up to it, but nothing should have been started without my knowledge.
"I will be meeting with the Trust in the coming days and will be seeking answers about why this has taken place and what happened with Annaleece because I have been kept in the dark until now."
On Saturday, the first anniversary of Annaleece's death, Sharon will travel to Helen's Bay, one of her daughter's favourite places, in order to honour her memory.
It also holds a lot of significance to the family as Helen's Bay is somewhere that Sharon and Annaleece would come to pay tribute to her son who took his own life a number of years ago.
Sharon said: "Annaleece and I would go to Helen's Bay every year in order to light lanterns in memory of her brother and it is somewhere that has always meant an awful lot to us.
"I will be honouring her memory in the same way and just wish that she was still here with us. I would do anything to have her back with me again."
A spokesperson for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust: "Belfast Trust would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest condolences to Annaleece’s family during what has been an extremely difficult time.
"An independent review examining the circumstances of Annaleece’s death was launched in April 2022. We are fully committed to engaging with this process and hope that it provides answers and some resolution for Annaleece’s family.
"Following Annaleece’s death, we undertook a local review to establish immediate learning and have since implemented a number of improvements to our safeguarding systems. We have also secured funding to make additional changes to the infrastructure at Beechcroft to further ensure the safety of young people in our care.
"We will fully engage with any further recommendations determined through the independent review process."
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