The 12-year-old girl who took her own life after bullying drove her to despair left notes for her parents urging them to share her story to help others.
Charlotte O’Brien, a year seven student at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield in Sydney’s central west, took her own life earlier this month after two years of misery in which she said classmates used confidential information to relentlessly harass her.
Her parents, Mat and Kelly, have now revealed the heartbreaking final notes their daughter left them, including one that read: “Mom, please share my story to raise awareness.”
Charlotte’s parents found the notes left in small, pink print after their daughter took her own life in the upstairs bedroom of the family home.
In other recent messages, Charlotte asked her parents to tell the school about her suffering and that life was “too hard”.
Another note was about his beloved little brother Will.
“Please, Mom, live for Will because I can’t take it anymore,” she said.
Charlotte found out she was going to be a big sister when her mother told her 17 months ago that she was having a boy.
Charlotte O’Brien, a year seven student at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield in Sydney’s inner-west, took her own life earlier this month.
She didn’t wish for anything for her birthday the following year because all she wanted was a brother.
Mat and Kelly are still trying to process the shock of what happened.
“The other thing we’re worried about is that we had a great last day with her,” Mat said. The Telegraph newspaper.
“It’s been a long time since I saw her so happy coming home from school.”
Parents said Charlotte was beaming with happiness as she ate her favorite dish, creamy pasta with chicken, for dinner and successfully passed her math homework, answering all the questions correctly and doing “little happy dances.”
She also baked banana bread and brought a piece to her father, who was still in a very good mood.
After playing with his mom and little brother, he said goodbye and “literally jumped in the shower.”
“That was the last time we saw her alive and we couldn’t understand what had happened,” Mat said.
Police told the couple that sometimes a person projects happiness before taking his or her own life because they believe they have found a solution to their problems.
Charlotte’s parents flatly reject that explanation.
Mat said the family had talked about their upcoming vacation, Charlotte wanting to take a road trip, and even the math problems he and she would solve the next day.
Charlotte’s parents, Mat and Kelly, have revealed the last messages their daughter left them
“This girl didn’t plan on doing this. Something happened when she walked into his bedroom,” Mat said.
Police are searching Charlotte’s phone to see what messages she was receiving in her final hours.
Kelly is still tormented by guilt and regret, wondering why her daughter didn’t just “come and get me a hug that night.”
One thing Kelly is adamant about is that she doesn’t want people to say this “ruined their lives” because as devastating as the tragedy is, “she’s what made us whole.”
The devastated mother said her daughter always felt “great emotion.”
She described Charlotte as “the sweetest, kindest, toughest, strongest little diva you’ll ever meet in your life.”
Mat and Kelly believe Santa Sabrina College could have done more to stop the bullying Charlottoe experienced.
Emails between Charlotte’s mother and the school reveal Kelly believed the bullying was having “serious ramifications” on her daughter’s mental health.
The night she died, Charlotte seemed to be joyfully happy and making plans for the future.
Mat said other parents had also raised the school’s “toxic” culture and that the school should intervene as adults and remove the children.
Grieving parents said schools across the country must adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to bullying.
Kelly said that after her GP labelled what was happening to Charlotte as “bullying”, the school rejected the term and said it was “juvenile behaviour”.
At one point towards the end of Year 6, Kelly was shocked to see Charlotte’s arm covered in scratches.
Charlotte claimed she was simply itchy, but her mother knew she was self-harming because she was feeling overwhelmed.
Kelly said that some days Charlotte would burst into tears as they approached the school drop-off spot, lamenting that she had “no friends,” that everyone hated her and that she was “a monster.”
Santa Sabina College has defended its handling of bullying, saying its anti-bullying policy was available on its website.
“Last week, I was overwhelmed by the number of emails and messages from our families saying that their children feel safe and cared for at Santa Sabina College,” said Principal Paulina Skerman.
She said parents “objected to the portrayal of our university as a place that fails to address issues that cause distress among our students.”
For confidential assistance call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800