Demi Lovato made an appearance on "Good Morning America" Thursday and revealed to Robin Roberts she was dealing as best as she could with the death of her father Patrick Lovato, who had been fighting with cancer in the last few years.
"I'm handling it okay. My father and I didn't have the most ideal relationship but at the end of the day, he's still my dad. I grew up with him and he's a wonderful person. It's difficult, but I'm handling it okay", she said, with a pinch of sadness in her voice. "I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I've dealt with mental illness. My father dealt with mental illness and he wasn't able to function in society, and that happens to a lot of people", she explained.
Demi and her father were estranged on non-speaking terms at the moment of his death.
"I had to cut off all connection. It was hurting me too much", she once told on nydailynews.com. Two days after the terrible news, she posted a pic on her Twitter account where she could be seen as a littler girl with her daddy. "RIP Daddy... I love you... Love, your little partner", were the words she wrote along with it.
Demi's experiences have served as an inspiration for her to help others. "This week, I'm launching the Lovato Treatment Scholarship Program. I'm helping one person at a time, I'm gonna pay for their treatment", she announced. She is co-working with Cast Recovery to create this new program. According to their website castrecovery.com, the Lovato Treatment Scholarship will cover expenses for someone struggling with mental health and/or addiction issues, including the costs for one of CAST Recovery's transitional living homes, as well as the clinical services provided at CAST's outpatient program.
The acting/singing superstar credits her fans, who gave themselves the name "The Lovatics", for helping her through tough times. "My fans have stood by me through everything I've been through in my life, including this past week. It's been a really rough week, but I've had incredible support from them and they can help me get through anything", she said.