The headteacher of a school where a 14-year-old former pupil tragically took her own life has admitted she was “without a doubt” bullied and called for more support for children suffering from mental health problems.
Isla Marschke’s body was discovered by her mother, Christie Jacobson, in the backyard of her home in Bundaberg South, Queensland, on Tuesday night.
Ms Jacobson desperately performed CPR, but it was too late to save Isla, who had left a short note in her room along with the password to her phone.
“I’m sorry, I love you mom,” he said.
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed how Isla’s mother had faced an uphill battle to get help for her daughter, who had suffered mental health issues for several years.
“I live in a regional city and I spent months and months desperately trying to find a child psychologist who could help my daughter,” Ms Jacobsen told this publication on Wednesday.
‘But I was constantly rejected because she was too young or because her books were full. Follow-up care was almost impossible. I can’t tell you how many times I would ask for help and be told ‘no, no, no.’
“While this was going on, she was also being bullied and experiencing family dynamic issues.”
Isla Marschke (pictured) was discovered by her mother Christie Jacobson in the backyard of her home in Bundaberg South, Queensland, on Tuesday night.
On Thursday, Shalom College Principal Daniel McMahon said Isla “without a doubt” experienced bullying at school.
Ms Jacobsen, a piano teacher and performing artist, called for more funding for mental health support in regional areas.
Isla had recently abandoned traditional learning at Shalom College, a Catholic school in Bundaberg, to pursue distance education, partly due to bullying and finding it difficult to fit in.
On Thursday, Shalom College principal Daniel McMahon told another publication that Isla “without a doubt” experienced bullying at school.
“A couple of people I know aren’t students at this school.”
This echoes comments made by Isla’s sister, Ava, who told this publication that she had been a victim of bullying and had dropped out of traditional school in July to begin distance learning because she was having difficulty fitting in.
“I had been struggling for quite some time,” Ava added.
“I had to text them before to get them to leave Isla alone and I had to talk to them at school before to get them to leave Isla alone because it was getting out of hand.”
“They were just horrible to her.”
Mr McMahon said “children sadly have to deal with some cases of bullying” and teachers at Shalom College worked hard to deal with it when it arose, but some occurred “secretly”.
“Isla’s story is tragic, but it’s not just about bullying,” added McMahon.
‘As his mother Christie pointed out in the media today, mental illness is a very real problem and the lack of sufficient support services for individuals and families is a real problem.
‘I was in pain due to multiple and complex problems, as many people do.
‘Trying to blame an individual or individuals may give some satisfaction, but it is neither helpful nor accurate.
“I would much rather put energy into helping young people have the courage to ask for help when they need it and have that help available.”
McMahon said “children have to sadly deal with bullying” and teachers at Shalom College worked hard to deal with it when it arose, but some happened “secretly.”
Ms Jacobson desperately performed CPR, but it was too late to save Isla, who had left a short note in her room along with the password to her phone (pictured: Isla and her mother, Christie).
It comes as two of the dance academies Isla attended paid tribute to her memory.
“Isla joined TNT in January 2024, competed in her first hip hop solo in a dance competition, performed numerous routines at our concert last month, and brought a smile and fun attitude to class,” wrote TNT Dance Academy on social networks.
LA Dance Academy said, “Today, the world feels a little darker without your light.”
Just two hours before Isla was found, she had been chatting at home with her older sister Ava, 16, about her upcoming birthdays and the gifts they both wanted.
Ava, who was the last person Isla spoke to, then went to work as a pharmacy assistant at Chemist Warehouse.
His stepfather came and told him the terrible news shortly before 6 p.m.
“Isla and I were just talking about normal things,” Ava told this publication.
‘It’s my birthday next Friday and hers is the 24th, so she was talking about how she got me a gift. It seemed really good.’
Isla, who worked at a local fish and chip shop, had been a victim of bullying and had left traditional school in July to start distance learning because she was having difficulty adjusting.
Just two hours before Isla was found, she had been chatting happily at home with her older sister Ava, 16, about her upcoming birthdays and the gifts they both wanted.
Isla, who had suffered for years before the bullying began, had anxiety, OCD and autism, but her mental state seemed to have improved dramatically after moving to home learning.
“She was thriving, she wanted to be a leader and her school work was improving without anyone seeing it,” said Andy McLucas, Isla’s stepfather.
‘She absolutely loved it. “She had found her place, so it was a big shock to me.”
McLucas, who is separated from Isla’s mother, said she had “gone through several episodes of counseling and talking to therapists.”
“Once we got the school element out of the way, he was doing pretty well,” Mr. McLucas said.
‘WWhen it was down, it was very noticeable. But This wasn’t one of those times, it just seemed a little flat.
McLucas, who said Isla was a talented musician and singer, paid tribute to her “quirky” personality.
Isla was remembered for her “quirky” personality and was described as a “ball of genius.”
A GoFundMe page, set up by Ava to help cover the cost of her funeral, has so far raised more than $20,000.
“She had such a wickedly amazing sense of humor that not many people understood because she was so funny and so different,” McLucas said.
‘She was so talented. He had a beautiful voice, loved to sing all the time and could play any instrument. “She was just a ball of genius.”
His voice was so good that his new school had recently asked him to record the national anthem to play during assemblies.
“She was very empathetic to those she loved,” McLucas added.
And when she liked you, you really liked her. He was very demanding and didn’t get along with everyone, but when he did, he just loved you fiercely and read to you.
“She just didn’t know how loved she was.”
TO GoFundMe pagewhich was created by Ava to help cover the cost of her funeral, has so far raised almost $55,000.
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