An Australian girl who committed suicide had previously complained about school bullying. The 12-year-old, named only as Charlotte, was a pupil at the private Santa Sabina College in Sydney when she took her own life. Her heartbroken parents have since spoken out and demanded that the bullying their daughter allegedly endured is not swept under the carpet.
The girl’s father wrote a message to radio host Ben Fordham, which he read out on air after warning listeners of its upsetting content. The father paid tribute to his daughter and described his heartbreak. He then stated that his daughter was bullied “by girls that still attend the school today.” The unnamed parent further stated that Charlotte left a note explaining that life had become too difficult for her. When the alleged bullying was previously raised with school officials, the girl’s father explained that they investigated, the bullies denied it, and, “That’s it. Case closed. Move on.”
The 12-year-old’s mother likewise sent a message to Mr. Fordham thanking him for standing up for Charlotte as she had “failed to do.” Identifying herself as Kelly, the youngster’s mom said she did not blame other pupils because they are just children who do not understand the impact of their actions. She also believes her daughter “made a mistake” in a moment of grief and did not really intend to take her own life.
Santa Sabina College sent its own statement to the broadcaster, insisting that some public claims about the girl’s death were “not consistent with our records.” The statement asked the media not to fuel the fire and to “take immense care” not to endanger pupils. “The main priority of the College at the moment is to support and care for our students,” the statement read.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare notes that suicides by people as young as Charlotte are rare. In 2022, there were 77 suicides involving individuals under age 17. In the vast majority of cases – 83.1% – the victim was aged between 15 and 17. Suicide accounts for 30.9% of deaths in the 15 to 17 age group and 32% of all deaths involving individuals aged 18 to 24.
