Shirley Ballas of Strictly Come Dancing has received an outpouring of love after sharing a poignant post on the 20th anniversary of her brother’s suicide.
The chief justice, 63, lost her sibling in 2003, when he committed suicide at the age of 44.
She’s since opened out about his loss and her desire to help other families, and in a subsequent piece, she wrote about how working with charity is at the “forefront of my mind” after her own world “came crashing down.”
Alongside a series of family pictures over the years, Shirley wrote: ’20 years ago today my dearest brother David took his own life. I lost my brother, my protector and my best friend.
‘I’ll remember the dreaded knock on the front door forever. I can still picture the police officers standing there and I just knew something was wrong.
‘“Mrs Rich” they said. I stepped aside and my mother stepped forward. From that moment, our worlds came crashing down.’
She went on: ‘How time flies dearest David. Where have the years gone… you are truly missed on a daily basis.
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‘I’ll never really know why you went, but my mother and I talk about you often and you are never forgotten.
‘Mary, your beautiful daughter, is doing you so very proud. She is strong, beautiful and she brings us so much joy.
‘My work for @calmzone and @suicideandco will continue with you in the forefront of my mind. My Skyathlon was for you David. I zip lined, wing walked and I skydived for you David.
‘I’ll continue to support others who are in dark places as I have learnt over the years there is light at the end of the tunnel. Continue to rest in peace David. Mum and I miss you so very much. Xxx’
Her Strictly co-stars and fans alike raced to her support in the comments, with Dianne Buswell writing: ‘Sending love’ and Claudia Winkleman echoing the sentiment with a sequence of hearts.
‘I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my Dad to suicide 30 years ago at 61. It’s such a heartbreaking circumstance for everyone. Much love to you and your family,’ one person wrote.
‘Thinking about you on this sad day. Thankyou for all you have done for Charity,’ another said.
Shirley previously spoke about being ‘terrified’ at the thought of other lives being lost to suicide.
‘Nothing terrifies me more than somebody losing a loved one like my family, my mum and I, and going through the pain of when he died 20 years ago,’ she told us earlier this year.
‘You never get over it. You learn to live with it, but you never get over it,’ she added.
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
