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Young daughter attempts suicide after relentless bullying over mum's cancer survival

A Queensland mother has spoken out after her eight-year-old daughter attempted suicide because of relentless bullying.

Richelle, from Brisbane, revealed to Yahoo7 the horrifying moment her eldest child tried taking her own life on Friday after being targeted by another girl at school.

"She came to us stating that she wanted to end her own life due to the bullies always winning," she said.

Richelle, a survivor of breast cancer, revealed she was the reason for her daughter's bullying after fellow students poked fun of her double mastectomy and resulting hair loss from chemotherapy.

Richelle's daughter was in floods of tears after she tried to take her own life following persistent bullying at school. Source: Supplied
Richelle's daughter was in floods of tears after she tried to take her own life following persistent bullying at school. Source: Supplied

"After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, one girl started because I was suffering from breast cancer," the mother said.

"She told my daughter that her mum wasn’t a woman because she didn’t have hair or breasts and that she would turn out the same as me."

Richelle's daughter was born with a cleft lip and a deformity to one eye which she says prompted other children to comment on her appearance her whole life. Her biological father committed suicide when she was just nine-months-old.

Despite this, Richelle gushed: “She is the nicest kid".

Richelle (left) blames herself for the bullying of her daughter (right) after having a double mastectomy. Source: Supplied
Richelle (left) blames herself for the bullying of her daughter (right) after having a double mastectomy. Source: Supplied

"She has excelled in every aspect of school life, it's just not fair, she doesn't deserve any of this."

Richelle says she has reported the bullying, which she says has also been physical, to her daughter's school but claims they have failed to do anything about the persistent attacks and says it has been "swept under the carpet".

She also claims the bully has been rewarded a place in a coveted after school class at the expense of her daughter. She claims her daughter confronted the school on the matter, but received no answer.

Richelle's daughter was taken to Logan Hospital on Friday after her failed suicide attempt and was treated by psychiatrists.

Richelle claims the bully told her daughter she would be hairless like her mother after she underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer. Source: Supplied
Richelle claims the bully told her daughter she would be hairless like her mother after she underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer. Source: Supplied

"She hid under a blanket when speaking to the mental health nurse because she feared the bully would find out and what she would then do to her."

Richelle revealed she has had to take her daughter to several psychiatrists for a problem she blames herself for.

"I feel like I’ve failed my daughter, its affected our family so much."

"My partner blames himself that we’ve not protected her enough."

Richelle took her daughter to Logan Hospital on Friday where she was seen to by a mental health nurse. Source: Supplied
Richelle took her daughter to Logan Hospital on Friday where she was seen to by a mental health nurse. Source: Supplied

Despite her daughter being placed on a program to build her self confidence, she believes not enough is being done to stop her daughter's case and other incidents from happening.

"We feel nobody cares and nobody wants to listen," Richelle admitted.

"The parents haven’t done anything. They’re letting their kids do these things and letting them think its OK."

Richelle's harrowing ordeal comes the same week as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she will be doing everything she can to tackle bullying and in particular cyberbullying.

"I firmly believe that we are just skimming the ocean of a big issue, where bullying and harassment is now following young children into the family home," Palaszczuk told reporters on Sunday.

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800