Mother writes book to raise awareness after daughter death

bournemouthecho.co.uk · Feb 21, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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A MOTHER on a mission to turn her tragedy into a call for awareness has written a book discussing her grief, after the loss of her daughter in 2024. Joanne Garcia-Dias lost her 15-year-old daughter Alice in December of 2024 due to a paracetamol overdose, and since this time she has been campaigning to raise awareness with other parents. Alice with mother Joanne (Image: Joanne Garcia-Dias) The Ferndown mother said that following Alice's death, her life was split into a 'before' and 'after'. READ MORE: Mother raises awareness of dangers of paracetamol after daughter's overdose She said that it was 'a journey through grief that no parent imagines', filled with heartbreak, reflection and her determination to speak openly about the realities families face behind closed doors. Joanne has now channelled her experience into a book, The Diary of a Grieving Mother, which she describes as a 'deeply personal account' that blends memoir, advocacy and the 'raw honesty of a parent learning to live with the unthinkable'. Alice and mother Joanne (Image: Joanne Garcia-Dias) Following Alice's death, Joanne is keen to raise the importance of safe medicine storage in the home, stating that she hopes this story can encourage households to keep medicines out of reach and securely stored. Joanne said: “I can’t change what happened to Alice. “But I can use my voice to help protect others. If speaking openly encourages even one family to lock medicines away or check in with their child, then Alice’s story is making a difference.” Her book began as private diary entries, which she said was a way to survive the early days when grief felt 'overwhelming'. Alice and mother Joanne (Image: Joanne Garcia-Dias) Joanne said that over time, those pages grew into something larger- a testament to Alice’s life, a voice for parents walking the same path and a call for greater compassion in how society understands loss, mental health, and the quiet risks that can exist in any home. Joanne hopes her book will encourage more open conversations about grief, about mental health and about the small steps families can take to keep their homes safer. Joanne said: “Grief isn’t something to fix. “It’s something to carry. And when we carry it together, it becomes a little lighter.” The book is now available on the Noble-amc Shopify site and Joanne will continue to share reflections and updates on her Instagram page. For Joanne, she said that this is more than a publication, it's 'a promise to Alice', as well as a tribute to love and an invitation for others to speak up and take meaningful steps to protect the people they love. If you would like any help with bereavement, loss or mental wellbeing, here are some helpline numbers: Call the Samaritans on 116 123 Child Bereavement UK 0800 028 8840 Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677 Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) 0300 111 5065