Bullying is a pervasive problem that affects individuals of all ages. The story of Cassidy Trevan, a young woman from Melbourne, Australia, serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact that relentless bullying and abuse can have on a person’s life.
A Life Marked by Struggle
Cassidy Trevan endured years of both psychological and physical bullying. She was subjected to harsh name-calling, verbal abuse, and even physical attacks—experiences that left deep scars. In her community, she was known for her involvement in beauty pageants, having earned titles such as Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA, and for her charitable efforts through a program called Kada’s Promise. Founded in 2017, Kada’s Promise aimed to bring comfort to children in foster care, shelters, and hospitals by providing teddy bears and blankets—an initiative inspired by the solace Cassidy once found in a cherished teddy bear during difficult times in her own childhood.
The Escalation of Abuse
Despite efforts to address the bullying, the harassment against Cassidy escalated over time. What began as relentless teasing and vandalism eventually took a darker turn. After enduring these traumatic experiences, Cassidy found herself unable to continue attending school. Even after taking time off and attempting to return, she faced renewed mistreatment. Tragically, the ongoing abuse and isolation became too overwhelming for her to bear.
A Heartbreaking Final Message
In December 2015, overwhelmed by the relentless bullying and its severe impact on her mental health, Cassidy tragically took her own life. Following her death, her mother, Linda, discovered a poignant letter that Cassidy had written. In this letter, Cassidy addressed those who had bullied her, warning future students about the dangers of such behavior and urging them to stand up against bullying. She spoke from a place of deep hurt, expressing both her pain and her hope that her story might prevent others from suffering as she did.
Cassidy’s letter is a somber call to action. It reflects the despair she felt but also serves as a powerful message to all who experience bullying: you have the strength to fight back. Her words, intended to warn and protect others, are a lasting testament to the devastating impact of bullying and the urgent need for change.
A Call to End Bullying
The tragedy of Cassidy Trevan’s life—and untimely death—has moved thousands of people. It highlights the critical need for comprehensive efforts to address bullying in schools, communities, and online spaces. Parents, educators, and policymakers must work together to create environments where every young person feels safe and valued.
Linda Trevan, Cassidy’s mother, continues to mourn the loss of her daughter, a bright young individual whose potential was cut tragically short. The pain of losing a child to bullying is immeasurable, and it underscores the urgency of the fight against all forms of abuse.
Moving Forward with Compassion
While Cassidy’s story is deeply heartbreaking, it also serves as an important reminder that we all have a role to play in ending bullying. By fostering kindness, offering support to those in need, and standing up against abuse, we can work together to prevent future tragedies like this one.
As communities reflect on Cassidy’s legacy, her letter continues to resonate with people around the world. It calls on everyone—students, parents, teachers—to take bullying seriously and to act with compassion. No one should feel so isolated or tormented that they believe there is no escape.
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.”
The letter was published by Australian Channel 9.
The death of one Young person due to bullying is one death too many.
Nobody should be made to feel so bad that they believe that the only way out is to take their own life.
We have to work together. Students, parents, teachers, everyone needs to work to bring this to an end.
Nobody should have to feel alone.
Linda’s grief will never go away and her daughter will never come back.
If you or someone you know is struggling with bullying or related mental health issues, please seek help from trusted professionals or contact support services immediately. Share Cassidy’s story on Facebook to raise awareness and join the conversation on how we can build safer, more compassionate communities.
