Kailia Posey's mom has revealed that her daughter left a note before tragically taking her own life at the age of 16.
In an interview with E! News, the iconic Toddlers & Tiara star's mother, Marcy Posey Gatterman, opened up about the days before her daughter's death.
"The days and weeks leading up to this, it seemed fine to me," Gatterman said reflecting on her last moments with her daughter. “I didn’t go through her phone. For prom, she went with a bunch of friends. And the next day, everything was fine.”
Earlier this month, Gatterman took to Facebook to announce her daughter’s passing. "I don’t have words or any thoughts," she wrote on May 2. "A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever."
Posey's mom recalled her daughter's demeanor in the days leading up to her death. The child star asked her mom to pick up deodorant from the store, and then she left the house in one of the family’s cars and did not return.
"She left a note for me and then one for her best friend," Gatterman said. "The note said that she loved me and that she was sorry and that her big brother is her best friend forever."
Gatterman also shared that the high school student was seeing a therapist regularly. She hopes that her daughter's death is a reminder to parents and teenagers to speak openly about mental health.
"Parents who have teenagers, check their phones," she said. "And if you're struggling, talk to your parents. They're not judging you. They're going to get you the help that you need, but we need to know what you need in order [to] get the help you need."
As Posey's family mourns the death of their loved one, Gatterman is comforted by the support of fans from around the world. She's also uplifted by Posey's friends, who have started a teen mental health fund called Kailia's World.
"Every sweatshirt that anybody buys, it goes to the fund so that we can get counselors out and help students out that need it," Posey's mother said. "She had everything going for her."
Our thoughts are with Kailia's family and friends at this time.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help and contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
