A teenager took her own life after allegedly being bullied, leaving a heartbreaking note for her mom to read.
Isla Marschke from Queensland, Australia took her own life at her home in Bundaberg South, over 360km north of Brisbane, according to reports.
Her mother found her in the backyard of the family home and tried to revive her but unfortunately, was not able to save Isla.
The 14-year-old was allegedly experiencing “awful” bullying as well as years of existing mental health issues before her death.
In the wake of her daughter’s death, Christie Jacobson found a note in the teen’s bedroom which had her phone password on it and a six-word message: “I’m sorry, I love you, mom.”
Now the grieving mother is doing her best to raise more awareness about funding local mental health services, stating that she tried to get help for her daughter numerous times but was turned away.
“I was constantly turned away because she was too young or their books were full,” she said as per News.com.au. “Follow-up care was almost impossible. I can’t tell you the amount of instances I would ask for help and be told ‘no, no, no’.”
Christie noted how her daughter had been the victim of bullying and suffered due to “family dynamic issues” which further exacerbated her mental health issues.
“But there wasn’t really a lead-up to it,” she added, describing the news as “devastating.”
As per the outlet, Isla had to be taken out of school earlier this year and continue her learning at home after being diagnosed with anxiety, OCD, and autism.
“She’d been struggling for quite a while. Last year, two of her closest former friends started bullying her. One of them would post TikTok videos calling her a rat and stuff,” her old sister, Ava, revealed.
It got so bad that the 16-year-old was forced to step in and tell the girls to leave her sister alone.
“They were just awful to her,” she said.
On the day that she passed, Isla spent time talking to her older sister about her upcoming birthday before Ava had to leave for work.
That was the last conversation she had with Isla before her death.
“It’s my birthday next Friday and hers is on the 24th, so she was just talking about how she got me a present,” the teenager recalled. “She seemed really fine.”
In the wake of the incident, the family has started a GoFundMe account to help with funeral costs.
“We are heartbroken to share that our beloved sister, Isla, has tragically ended her life,” Ava wrote, referring to her sister as a “light” in their family’s lives. “In this difficult time, we are reaching out for support to cover the costs of her funeral and related expenses over the next couple of weeks as we recover.
“Any amount you can give will be deeply appreciated. We are unsure of any official date for the service but we thank you for your kindness and support during this challenging time,” the statement added.
So far the family has managed to raise approximately $37,600 USD ($55,860 AUD).
Our thoughts are with Isla’s loved ones as they navigate through this difficult period.