A devastated Gold Coast mother has spoken out about losing her 13-year-old daughter—and issued a message to the bullies—after she was tormented by her peers for months.
In an exclusive interview with 9 News, Sharlene Scott recounted how her bubbly army cadet daughter Emily took her own life last month after experiencing relentless physical, verbal and online abuse.
“She couldn’t escape it, they followed her everywhere,” Ms Scott said.
“She had a couple of girls tell her they were going to bash her until she wasn’t breathing any more.
“Thirty of them tried to attack her – male and females.
“She was too scared to even go to the bus stop.”
The heartbroken mother said she found texts from her daughter and missed calls on the day she died.
“I got a message that night from Emily saying ‘I’m going to kill myself’,” Ms Scott said.
“But I never saw it until it was already too late.”
Ms Scott is now calling for stricter punishments for those involved in cyber bullying; it follows on from the brave work of the Everett family who lost their 14-year-old daughter Dolly to suicide.
“There needs to be consequences – otherwise they just don’t stop,” Ms Scott said.
Emily’s aunt Belinda Watson added: “Emily’s not the first child and probably won’t be the last at all and we need to stop it somehow.”
As the ABC reports, a Senate enquiry is expected to deliver its findings after an inquiry into whether cyberbullying should attract tougher charges.
If you or someone you know needs support, help can be found at Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
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