'I was crying every night': How woman bravely confronted vicious bullies
A young woman has hit back at bullies after spending 13 years as a victim.
Hannah Swinnerton, of Melbourne, endured bullying throughout her entire life at school and told Seven News students photoshopped her face onto farm animals and told her to kill herself.
“I was going home crying every night,” she said.
She was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and in 2012, on her last day of school, she read a note aloud about the impact bullying had on her life, The Herald Sun reported.
“Every time I get bullied. I feel sometimes scared about what’s going to happen next,” she said in her speech.
“When going to school, I should be learning new things and achieving my goals, instead of getting bullied and feeling unsafe at school.
“Learn to have a bit of respect for others. People actually take their own lives over bullying.”
The speech had students and teachers in tears.
Relationships Australia estimates about 45 million bullying incidents across all schools each year and Ms Swinnerton has decided to help stop it by becoming an advocate.
She’s since joined anti-bullying foundation Angel’s Goal, The Mornington Peninsula News reported.
She’s also started visiting schools to share her story.
“Never give up,” Ms Swinnerton told Seven News.
“If you’re going through a hard time don’t keep it all in.”
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
