Melbourne resident Cassidy Trevan was well acquainted with the experience of being subjected to both psychological and physical bullying.

For quite some time, she had been the target of bullying. The harassment was primarily psychological in nature, though it had escalated to physical a few times.

She was subjected to awful name-calling and was assaulted both in school and online. Even her family’s residence was subject to vandalism.

It deteriorated to the point where she was unable to attend school anymore. It was simply excessive. Things didn’t improve, despite conversations with the bullies.

With a whole term away from school and some support, she felt prepared to attempt school again. To acclimate herself to it, she began with two days per week.

The girls who had mistreated her expressed regret. They even wanted to be her friends now. They inquired whether she was interested in going to a festival with them.

Her exclusion had lasted so long that, despite the girls’ previous unkindness toward her, her need for friends outweighed that factor.

Yeah I’m a weirdo. 💋😘😍 no judgy 😷🙊✌️

Posted by Cassidy Trevan on Friday, October 23, 2015

Cassidy was unaware that the girls had devised a plan that was more outrageous than anyone could conceive.

The girls brought Cassidy to a nearby house where they had set up for two older men to sexually assault her.

The girls waited outside as the boys took turns assaulting Cassidy. Her age was 13.

The incident was reported to the police by Cassidy, but due to insufficient evidence, the case was unfortunately dropped. Everyone involved was set free.

Linda, Cassidy’s mother, moved her to another school and they relocated as well, but the bullies always managed to reach her. They assaulted her in stores and even phoned her mother, requesting to speak with her.

Despite Linda’s efforts, she had to watch her daughter decline. In the end, Cassidy struggled to get out of bed in the morning.

She committed suicide in December 2015.

Linda discovered a letter that Cassidy had penned after her suicide. An epistle that all should take a look at. An epistle to everyone who engages in bullying. A letter addressed to all those who have experienced bullying.

Here’s what she wrote:

“I was a student at (school name omitted) and I was raped by some of the students who still attend that school. I know this already probably sounds like attention-seeking but it’s honestly far from it. I have many reasons for doing this which I’ll also explain.

My aim is to warn other people (students mostly but also parents) about what happened because I’m worried if they could do it to me they could do it to other kids like me, or at least try to. You actually have the power to stop this from happening. Remember the people who did this to me were school students at (omitted), it’s hard to believe, I know. But it’s true.

I’m not doing this for revenge to those students that raped me, set up the rape, bullied me about the rape, teased me about the rape or anything like that. I’m also not doing this for attention seeking like I mentioned earlier, I want to make that clear.

I’m doing this because over 1500 students years 7-12 are currently enrolled at the school and they need to be warned. I feel because of what happened to me, and because the staff at the school did nothing to help me (which I’ll talk a bit more about later). It’s now my duty to warn you all and to make you aware of what happened. (Not just what you may have heard around school but what actually happened.)

But I’m also doing this for myself. I want to finally after 1 and ½ years be left alone. It’s surprising just how many students at (omitted) have heard stories of me and weirdly enough still get told stories of me to this day. I still continue to get students I’ve never met contacting me Facebook calling me a slut. I’ve moved schools, I’ve moved house and still I’m being contacted and bullied. I can’t stop people from spreading rumours, but at least I could try and spread what really happened seeing as it’s still being talked about anyway. But as I said this honestly is more so for students who are unaware of this and are in danger of those students.

My name is Cassidy Trevan, and I was raped.

If anyone every tries this on you trust me it’s worth fighting! Fight! If you don’t you’ll regret it for the rest of your life like I do. You can do it.

Be careful. Be warned. Be safe.”

Australian Channel 9 published the letter.

Every young person who dies as a result of bullying represents an unacceptable loss of life.

It should never happen that someone feels so terrible that they think suicide is their only escape.

Collaboration is necessary. Everyone—students, parents, teachers—needs to contribute to putting an end to this.

No one ought to experience solitude.

Linda will always carry her grief, and her daughter will never return.

The story of Cassidy has touched thousands, and I hope it reaches many more.