The headteacher of the school where a 14-year-old former student tragically took her own life has admitted she “undoubtedly” suffered abuse 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 their home in Bundaberg South, Queensland, on Tuesday evening.
Mrs. Jacobson desperately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but it was too late to save Isla, who left a short note in her room along with her phone password.
“I'm sorry, I love you mom,” it said.
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed how Isla's mother had to fight an uphill battle to get help for her daughter, who had been suffering from mental health problems for several years.
“I live in a regional town and I went there for months, desperately trying to find a child psychologist who could help my daughter,” Jacobsen told this publication on Wednesday.
“But I kept getting rejected because she was too young or their 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 occurring, she was also a victim of abuse and was experiencing issues with family dynamics.”
Isla Marschke (pictured) was discovered by her mother, Christie Jacobson, in the backyard of their Bundaberg South home in Queensland on Tuesday evening
On Thursday, Shalom College principal Daniel McMahon said Isla had “undoubtedly” experienced bullying at school
Ms Jacobsen, a piano instructor and performing artist, called for more resources to support mental health in regional areas.
Isla recently left her traditional education at Shalom College, a Catholic school in Bundaberg, to start distance learning, partly due to bullying and the fact that she found it difficult to fit in.
On Thursday, Shalom College principal Daniel McMahon told another publication that Isla “without a doubt” experienced bullying at school.
“Several people I know are not students at this school.”
This echoes comments from Isla's sister, Ava, who told this publication that she was a victim of bullying and left traditional school in July to start distance learning because she had trouble fitting in.
“She's been struggling with this for a long time,” Ava added.
“I had to text them earlier to tell them to leave Isla alone, and I had to talk to them at school before they left Isla alone because it was getting out of hand.”
– They were just terrible to her.
McMahon said “children unfortunately have to deal with the problem of bullying” and teachers at Shalom College worked hard to deal with it when it occurred, but some occurred “in secret.”
“Isla's story is tragic, but it's not just about abuse,” McMahon added.
“As her mother Christie noted 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.
“Like many people, she suffered from many complex problems.
“Attempting to place blame on a specific person or individuals may make some people feel satisfied, but it is unhelpful and inaccurate.
“I would much rather put my energy into helping young people so that they have the courage to reach out for help when they need it and that help is readily available.”
McMahon said “children unfortunately have to deal with bullying” and teachers at Shalom College worked hard to deal with it when it happened, but some happened “in secret”
Mrs Jacobson desperately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation but it was too late to save Isla, who left a short note in her room along with her phone password (pictured: Isla and her mother Christie)
This comes as two dance academies that Isla attended paid tribute to her memory.
“Isla joined TNT in January 2024, participated in her first solo hip-hop performance at a dance competition, performed multiple routines at our concert last month, and brought a smile and fun to the classes,” TNT Dance Academy wrote on the website social media.
LA Dance Academy stated, “Today the world seems a little darker without your light.”
Just two hours before Isla was found, she was at home talking to her older sister Ava (16) about their upcoming birthday and the gifts they were both expecting.
Ava, who was the last person to talk to Isla, then left to work as a pharmacy assistant at the Chemist Warehouse.
Her stepfather came and told her the terrible news just before 6 p.m.
“Isla and I were just talking about normal things,” Ava told the publication.
“My birthday is next Friday and hers is the 24th, so she was just talking about how she bought me a present. She seemed really okay.
Isla, who worked in a local fish and chip shop, was a victim of bullying and left traditional school in July to start distance learning because she couldn't fit in
Just two hours before Isla was found, she was happily chatting at home with her older sister Ava, 16, about their upcoming birthdays and the gifts they both wanted.
Isla, who had suffered from anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism for years before the abuse began, but her mental health seemed to improve dramatically after being homeschooled.
“She was growing, she wanted to be a leader, and her school work was just improving, invisibly,” said Andy McLucas, Isla's stepfather.
“She really loved it. She found her place, so it was a shock.
McLucas, who is separated from Isla's mother, said she “went through various periods of counseling and talking to therapists.”
“When we removed the school element, she did quite well,” McLucas said.
“INwhen she fell it was very noticeable. But this wasn't one of those moments, it just seemed a little flat.
McLucas, who said Isla is a talented musician and singer, paid tribute to her “quirky” personality.
Isla was remembered for her “quirky” personality and has been described as a “ball of awesomeness”
The GoFundMe page Ava started to help with her funeral costs has raised over $20,000 so far
“She just had such an incredibly amazing sense of humor that not many people understood because she was just so funny and so different,” McLucas said.
“She was very talented. She had a beautiful voice, loved to sing all the time and could play any instrument. She was just a ball of awesomeness.
She had such a good voice that recently her new school asked her to record the national anthem to be played during assemblies.
“She was full of empathy for those she loved,” McLucas added.
“And when she liked you, she really liked you.” She was very picky and didn't get along with everyone, but when she did, she just loved deeply and could read you.
“She just didn't know how much she was loved.”
And the GoFundMe page, a foundation set up by Ava to help cover her funeral costs, has raised almost $55,000 so far.
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