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WARNING: This article touches on mental and sexual child abuse. Those who find these subjects triggering are advised to not continue reading.
Former Neighbours star, Madeleine West has confessed she was born with a different name in which she changed to escape her traumatic past.
Madeleine, who played Dee Bliss in Neighbours from 2000 to 2003 and Andrea Somers, took to Instagram to reveal that she was born with the name Melanie Ann before confessing she had suffered abuse as a child.
Madeleine was born with the name Melanie.
(Image: Instagram)“For most of my life I’ve hated her…. I blamed her for some truly despicable things that happened to her – to me- when I was tiny,” she began. “Why?”
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“Because little Melanie was told it was her fault. And I believed it.
“I ran from Melanie as hard and as fast and as far as I could …so far I even changed my name.
“My full story is not yet ready for the telling, but #justice will be served.”
She is starting a podcast to spread awareness.
(Image: Instagram)In an effort to save others from experiencing the same trauma, Madeleine has “joined forces” with former detective and victims advocate Gary Jubelin (I Catch Killers Podcast). The news was revealed ahead of her true crime podcast titled Predatory set to be released on January 17.
The podcast aims to help outsiders identify child abuse which could help increase the low rates of conviction despite having a high victim rate.
“Abuse of children occurs across every social bracket, in every culture, in every country, every town, even in our own homes. It destroys lives,” she wrote.
“We love true crime stories, yet despite having one of the highest rates of victims, and the lowest rates of convictions, we refuse to discuss the predation of children playing out, hidden in plain sight.
“Because frankly, most of us don’t know what to look for. It’s a fact I’ve learned the hard way.
“This series aims to provide a checklist for parents, carers, society at large, offering expert guidelines for what to look out for, how predators think, where they hide…. A guide to help keep kids safe.”
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