Lottie Tomlinson has revealed how she dealt with the "heart-breaking" loss of her mother and sister, despite receiving no help from professionals.
Lottie — who is the younger sister of One Direction star Louis — lost her mother Johannah Deakin to leukaemia in December 2016.
Her sister Félicité died in March 2019 from an accidental overdose.
Lottie appeared on Monday's episode of Loose Women to speak about the lack of support following their deaths. She was joined by Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health Dr Rosena Allin-Khan.
"It was really quick and losing my mum at 18, such a heart-breaking and scary thing," Lottie said.
She added: "It was quite shocking that we were surrounded by health professionals and nothing really got offered to us."
Lottie said the same thing happened when she lost her sister and she was left to deal with grief alone.
"I felt like it was my responsibility to the family to get some help and make a difference. It's been a long, hard journey, but the therapy really helped me."
The mum-to-be said Félicité had struggled following their mum's death.
"Everyone had their own reaction, everyone is different. And obviously my sister didn't cope very well.
"And I feel things could've been different if she'd got the help."
Following Johannah's death, Lottie was recommended to wait three months before getting therapy. She found this advice unhelpful, telling the Loose Women panellists: "That might be the timespace when you're really going through a dark place."
Lottie is backing Sue Ryder calling on the government to develop a bereavement pathway.
This would include offering people help through counselling, prescription drugs and financial support.
Last year, Lottie shared a tribute to her younger sister on what would have been her 21st birthday.
Posting on her Instagram Stories, Lottie shared a picture of herself and Félicité at an event.
She wrote: "My beautiful baby sister and best friend would have been 21 today. Not a day goes by that I don't miss you.
"I miss my sister but more so I miss my friend. You were the best person to talk to about everything.
"I think of what you would have been like today, what you would have been doing. But instead you're safe with Mama looking after us all from up there."
She added: "Until we meet again, I will make you proud x."
