Mother advocates for suicide prevention after losing daughter

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — “This doesn’t have to keep happening. For every 10 to 40 seconds, another person has died from suicide. It's facts."

Those are the words of Tiffany Dosal, whose daughter, Aurelia Star, committed suicide just two years ago. The 13-year-old seemed like a happy, outgoing teenager who loved spending time with family and friends.

But, just one day after graduating from eighth grade, she committed suicide. Her mother blames herself saying she did not see any signs.

“The only signs that I saw was the anger like she would get angry sometimes and pushed me away, but I thought it was teen angst," Dosal said. "

According to Dosal, Star was being bullied intensively at something she only found out after Star's death. She had no clue until her friends told her afterward about the bullying.

“All I saw was happy Star, laughing Star, dancing Star, but people need to know that there are questions, complicated questions," the mother said. "There were some times silences that I saw on her and I just thought well she is thinking or she was having a long day. I should have asked questions.”

That is why Dorsal says it is important to check in with your children, have conversations and ask questions, even if your child does not want to have them. Most importantly, let them know that despite whatever situation they may be going through, everything will be okay.

“What you are going through or feeling right now, is only temporary," Dosal said. "Only temporary. You have the rest of your lives to live. And, believe it or not you have so many people that love you and you don’t want them to be like me.”

World Suicide Prevention Day is on Sept. 10 and Dosal plans to be part of various local events raising suicide awareness including a local suicide awareness walk in Harlingen.