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As part of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Angel Carter spoke about how the death of her twin brother, singer Aaron Carter, who had suffered from addiction and mental health issues, convinced her to support the children’s mental health organization On Our Sleeves.
In January, Angel held the Songs For Tomorrow Benefit Concert with its proceeds going to On Our Sleeves. Angel hoped the concert would start a conversation.
“It really starts with children,” she said. “It starts with creating a safe space for your children.” Angel said that the nonprofit provides “free expert resources for parents” to address their child’s mental health challenges. They are also coming out with “teacher kits” that allow time for kids to talk about mental health at school.
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She stated that addiction was a “genetic component within my family,” citing that her parents came from “troubled homes” that possibly acted as a source of her and her siblings’ mental health struggles growing up.
Angel explained that she was the only one in her family to go to therapy, attending every week since she was 18 years old. She added that Aaron did not have that same help and struggled with addiction, mental illness and “trauma within the home.” Angel described him as a “child working in an adult industry,” claiming he didn’t want to be on tour and instead desired to be at home with his friends.
Now a mother to a 4-year-old daughter, Angel said that she wants to break the cycle of “generational dysfunction” by eliminating the shame attached to talking about mental health struggles.
Recently, Carter’s mom has questioned the results of Aaron’s autopsy.