Singer’s Gift for caring helps save ‘suicidal’ fan
X FACTOR’S Gifty Louise prevented a fan from killing herself after chatting on Twitter.
Talented Gifty, 20, attempted suicide herself aged 16 following the death of her mum Stella.
The popular singer has since turned her life around after beating depression and self-harm.
She told how she had helped save a fan’s life after the troubled teen reached out to her over the social media site.
Gifty, who performed the Jackson 5’s Rockin’ Robin last night, said: “A girl messaged me on Twitter after hearing what I went through.
“She had lost her mum and dad and was hitting breaking point. I took her number and called her up and we spoke for ages. “She said she wanted to kill herself and I was in tears on the phone with her.
“I just tried to tell her that sometimes you have to go through such dark times to make you strong. It has made me much stronger and I appreciate life much more.”
The fan has also spoken to the Daily Star Sunday but we have agreed to keep her identity a secret.
She said: “Gifty has really helped build my confidence. She basically said all these things you are going through now will make you stronger, and that these feelings are temporary.
“I have my confidence back and her advice that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger is true.” Gifty went into depression after mum Stella died in a car crash when she was 10. She struggled through her teenage years before trying to kill herself aged 16.
Gifty said: “I went through a lot of depression and dark times but I have put them behind me.
“It was a very dark phase in my life. I was depressed for over a year and a half and felt completely alone.
“I want to show other people that no matter how bad it gets you can turn your life around.”
Gifty, originally from Ghana, aims to win the show with help from her mum’s spirit. She said: “Every time I’m performing or rehearsing I feel my mum’s spirit with me, comforting me.
“I want to do well for myself but also to make my mum proud.”
She also told how the contest was bringing her and her estranged dad together.
“Me and my dad are getting on. We are trying to make it better.”