A heartbroken family have been devastated after a popular teenager died after a 'cry for help'
Alex Duce had been in hospital after after she was admitted on September 11.
But the 18-year-old woman's life support machine was turned off on Friday.
Her foster sister and the parents who raised her now want to raise awareness of the mental health struggles she faced and how tough they say life is for young people today.
WalesOnline reported how "bubbly and popular" Alex, who was studying Beauty at Ebbw Vale College, had been dealing with anxiety and struggled with self confidence.
Alex had a happy childhood growing up with her foster family and biological brother Ellis in Rhyd y Cae, and foster sister Kayleigh Morgan, 34.
Her foster mother Mandy Hughes said she’ll never forget Alex’s “cheekiness and personality.
“Alex was 18 in May just gone, and she had been doing her hair and beauty course in college,” the 56-year-old said.
“She struggled with the course but she pushed herself to keep attending and she was doing well.
“She was a very bubbly and popular girl with lots of friends. When she became 17, perhaps 17 and a half, she wanted her own little bit of independence.
"We helped her to get a place, but I think she became lonely and a little bit of depression kicked in - even though we were always here for her and she’d Facetime me four or five times most days and we’d have a good old chat.
“She started mentioning she was having a little bit of anxiety before leaving the house."
Alex was suddenly rushed to the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil from her home in Tredegar, south east Wales.
Her foster mum said she took an overdose two months ago and as her mental condition seemed to be improving, she asked Mandy when she was adopted, and had the date tattooed onto her chest.
Mandy said: “Now I think back, I wonder whether that was a sign she was about to do something.
“She sent me a message not long ago thanking me and my husband for taking her and Ellis into our family, and that we’d never know how much we were loved.
"It does make me think, did she plan this? These thoughts have been in my head. She started mentioning she was having a little bit of anxiety before leaving the house."
Alex was taken hospital in Merthyr Tydfil from her home in Tredegar, south east Wales.
After not hearing from Alex for more than a day last Saturday. Mandy called the police on Sunday morning.
Mandy added: “We continued to phone and phone and kept going to her flat, but we didn’t actually know if she was in there.
“We were banging on the door and calling but there were no replies.
"When the police came and started trying to get into the flat we then heard a loud bang, which was Alex falling to the floor.
"They struggled to get in, it took them about 25 minutes, but she’d gone when we got in.
“It makes me wonder whether she did it as a cry for help, because she waited until she thought we could get in. I think it was a cry for help that has gone drastically wrong.
"I really really believe she wouldn’t have gone this far.”
Officers resuscitated Alex at the scene and she was urgently transferred to the Prince Charles Hospital where she was on life support until Mandy made the heart-breaking decision to switch the machine off. on Friday.
Alex’s organs have been donated and have already saved the lives of four people.
Kayleigh said: “I’m so proud we’ve done that and I do want to highlight the lives she will save.
"Alex had a heart of gold. She was a diva, and she always had to have the last word, but her heart has always been in the right place. We will miss her so much.”
The teenager's family want to share her story to help raise awareness of the difficulties facing young women in modern society, and the impact those challenges can have on mental wellbeing.
Kayleigh said: “Life is tough now for young people, tougher than when I was that age.
“Years ago, when relationships ended, for example, it’d be done with and forgotten.
"But things now are rubbed in your face on social media.
“Social media, I think, has a lot to do with poor mental health in young people. It’s not always a good thing having everyone in close contact like that.”
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