A teenage girl who took her own life after being bullied for years had shared a social media post about suicide awareness just one day earlier.
Clarrissa Nicholson had only recently turned 13 when she took her own life at her home at Mount Low in Townsville, North Queensland, overnight on September 2.
Clarrissa’s mum Selena Nicholson found her daughter’s body the following morning, just before she was due to catch the bus to school.
It was only after her death that her family found out the schoolgirl had been the victim of relentless bullying.
In a heartbreaking twist, Clarrissa posted a TikTok video raising awareness for National Suicide Month the day before her death.
‘One simple question can help save someone’s life,’ she posted. ‘You matter, please stay.’
Clarrissa’s heartbroken friends and Northern Beaches State High School classmates posted heartfelt comments under the post after they learned of her death.
‘I love you Rissa. I sit and count the minutes go by, thinking of every moment we had together. Remember we promised we’d make TikToks some day,’ one friend posted.
Townsville teenager Clarrissa Nicholson had only recently turned 13 when she sadly took her own life overnight on September 2
Clarrissa’s heartbroken friends and Northern Beaches State High School classmates honoured her memory with heartfelt tributes
‘I cry realising we’ll never get to.
‘You always said I was your favourite and you meant the world to me, we had our ups and downs but now that you’re gone I can’t see the world clearly. I miss you Clarrissa.
‘I sob every second reading our chats together. You mean everything I hope you rest better than you did down here on this cruel world.’
‘Rest in peace, Rissa,’ another wrote.
‘When I didn’t have many friends you helped me in so many ways, I love you so much Rissa and I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.’
Family and friends made up more than 200 mourners who paid tribute to Clarrissa during a touching ceremony held on Friday.
The service was organised with the help of Clarrissa’s grandmother Trish Hamilton who started a GoFundMe to raise money for the funeral, which was held at the Holy Trinity Church in Mundingburra.
‘Our beloved Clarrissa’s life was tragically taken far too soon,’ Ms Hamilton wrote.
Clarrissa was farewelled during a service held on Friday
‘For the last few years she battled with in-person and online bullying.
‘Despite the pain she carried, she always wore a smile and did her best to protect her family from knowing the depth of her struggles.
‘Bullying in any form is never okay. It’s important to remember that it’s okay not to be okay, and to speak up.
‘If someone confides in you, please ensure they get the support they need by reaching out for help.
‘Clarrissa was a wonderful daughter, granddaughter, sister, and friend. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing her was touched by her kindness and beautiful spirit.
‘As a family, the sudden loss of our precious Clarrissa has been an overwhelming emotional journey.
‘From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love and support during this heartbreaking time.’
Ms Nicholson said her family struggled to comprehend the sudden loss of their ‘vivacious, loving girl’.
Clarrissa with her mum Selena Nicholson (left)
‘We didn’t know [about her inner struggles], she literally always had a smile on her face, she smiled all the time,’ Ms Nicholson told Townsville Bulletin.
‘They’d call her names, like she got called a ‘flounder’, ‘oh, you look like a flounder’, just horrible things like ‘no one loves you’ kind of things but people loved her.
‘We’ve been told by other people (that) people have said ‘her mother doesn’t know how bad it was, how bad she was bullied’, things like that.
Clarrissa, who had an older brother, two younger brothers and younger sister, loved doting on her younger siblings.
‘She’d do her little sister’s make-up and let her little sister do her make-up,’ Ms Nicholson said.
The heartbroken mother said her daughter wanted to be a famous social media star, but she also wanted to stay grounded and help people and care for children.
‘She wanted to become a midwife because she just loves babies, and she wanted to be a teacher because she likes helping people,’ Ms Nicholson said.
Clarrissa’s death hit the north Queensland Townsville community hard.
Clarrissa’s death hit the North Queensland Townsville community hard
The schoolgirl’s family released video of Clarrissa prior to the funeral service, which showed her outwardly bubbly and happy nature.
Many of the mourners were able to sign Clarrissa’s coffin before her final farewell on Friday.
The lines ‘Fly high pretty girl, love you’ and ‘We all miss you pretty girl’ followed by a love heart were seen etched on the coffin.
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