A 12-year-old girl from Australia's Hunter Valley, Alisha Rush, died on July 21 following a battle with mental health. Her family confirmed that her struggles were exacerbated by the loss of her father, Kurt Rush, to suicide approximately one year prior.
Alisha, affectionately known as Ali or 'Ali Cat,' was described as a beloved daughter, sister, friend, and talented young rugby league player. Her paternal grandmother, Lana Simpson, told the Daily Mail that Ali "idolized her dad and never quite had been able to cope with him gone." Simpson further stated that Ali had an urgent mental health referral from her school but was unable to secure an appointment for three and a half weeks, just days before her death. "The mental health system is a massive failure, whether it be for children or adults," Simpson remarked.
Research indicates that children who have lost a parent to suicide are three times more likely to die by suicide themselves. In light of this, Simpson intends to participate in Lifeline's 'Out of the Shadows Walk' on September 10 to raise funds for suicide prevention services, hoping to prevent similar tragedies.
Community Tributes
Alisha was a player for the Southlakes Roosters' Under-12 girls team. The club announced that support would be available at their home ground for anyone affected by her loss. "Thank you to everyone who has wrapped their arms around Ali's family, her teammates and our Club over the past week. Your compassion has reminded us of what the rugby league community is all about," the club stated, adding, "Once a Rooster, always a Rooster."
Junior rugby league clubs across the Hunter region were invited to honor Alisha by wearing pink ribbons, styling their hair in three plaits to represent her number three jersey, wearing wristbands, and observing a minute of silence before games. Several clubs responded by committing to retire their number three jersey for the round and participate in the tribute.
Hunter MP Dan Repacholi shared a video of Alisha's teammates walking onto the field carrying her number three jersey.
Alisha's mother, Leanne, who was separated from Kurt Rush at the time of his death, described her daughter as an "amazing, intelligent and kind girl" who loved sports, the beach, and music. "She knew she had mental health problems but she also tried to put on a brave face," Leanne told 2GB.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist Leanne and the wider family with funeral expenses. Resources for those affected include Lifeline at 13 11 14 and Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.