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Savannah Forbes appeared upbeat and was chatting about shopping for makeup as she enjoyed her favourite meal of steak and asparagus at the dinner table with her mum and younger sister. That was the last night they had together because soon after she took her own life. She was only 12. The sudden death last Monday of the "joyful" girl, who always spoke up for others,
has left her family shattered. Heartbreakingly, it was not the only tragic loss of this kind in the past week.
Two days later a boy named Treyvon Bradshaw died by suicide.
He was only 13. Treyvon was a much-loved player for Gold Coast junior rugby league club the Coomera Cutters. He was described as a “beautiful boy”. Only five days passed before the club experienced tragedy once again. Another player, Kaiyah Kennedy, also suicided. He was only 12. The proud Indigenous boy, who loved learning, was described as “an absolute ball of energy and fun”.
These suicides are not linked. But it is just so hard to fathom. They were all so young. They all had their whole lives left to live.
Savannah’s family spoke out about their struggles accessing mental health support in this special report by Jackie Sinnerton and Danica Clayton.
Her mother revealed she had been wrapped up in a poisonous algorithm on TikTok that was filled with self-harm and talk of suicide. A police investigation into her social media accounts uncovered how she had been interacting with users claiming they had tried to take their own lives.
Savannah was using TikTok despite world-first laws that began in December last year banning under-16s from social media following News Corp Australia’s Let Them Be Kids
campaign. Savannah’s mum says that social media companies failed her daughter twice. Firstly, by allowing her to slip past the new age-limit laws. Then, by failing to stop the sinister posts and conversations. It shows why now is the time the government must begin enforcing heavy penalties against big tech. Otherwise the new laws risk becoming a toothless tiger.
Our thoughts are now with the families grappling deep loss and grief. For anyone reading this who is struggling please know help is out there. Numbers include Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Until next week.
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