# Heartbreaking new details emerge after 12-year-old Australian girl dies following battle with mental health

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/heartbreaking-new-details-emerge-after-12-year-old-australian-girl-dies-following-battle-with-mental-health/
- Published: 2026-07-31T02:04:19+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-22T04:23:28+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16018255/alisha-rush-death-nsw-kurt-rush.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Art, Culture, Health, Mental Health, World

## Key points

- 12-year-old died a year after her father's suicide, highlighting children's vulnerability
- Mental health system delays prevented her receiving urgent care before her death
- Research shows children who lose parents to suicide are three times more at-risk

## Summary

Alisha Rush, a 12-year-old Australian girl from NSW, died on 21 July whilst receiving mental health treatment, roughly one year after her father Kurt died by suicide in June 2025. Her family has confirmed that Ali struggled deeply with her father's death and was unable to cope with his loss. This case underscores the particular vulnerability of children who have experienced parental suicide, with research indicating they are three times more likely to die by suicide themselves.

The family has highlighted systemic failures in mental health care, noting that Ali had an urgent referral from her school but faced a 3.5-week waiting period for an appointment—she died just days before her scheduled medical appointment. Al was a talented young rugby league player who had been trying to put on a brave face despite knowing she had mental health problems. Her community has rallied in response, with her rugby league club and neighbouring clubs honouring her memory through tributes, and her family participating in suicide prevention fundraising efforts to help prevent similar tragedies.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.