‘Strong support’ offered in wake of schoolgirl’s suicide says principal

When yet another teen from the Fraser Coast took their own life, it sent shockwaves through the community. Here’s how one school’s putting in a herculean effort to help students.

Maryborough State High School student Tayesha Huggett took her own life earlier this month.

Every means of support is being offered to students at Maryborough State High School in the wake of the suicide of one its young students, according to principal Simon Done.

Howard’s Tayesha Huggett took her own life on April 19, sparking an outpouring of grief across the region, particularly at her school and within her family.

A funeral was held for the schoolgirl in Hervey Bay on Friday.

Tayesha died a week before her 15th birthday.

Mr Done said the school had an extraordinary wellbeing team which was wrapping its support around every student who needed it.

But he said the school also focused on being proactive when it came to supporting the mental health and support systems around students, not just reactive when a tragedy happened, like the loss of Tayesha.

“Any tragic event like this will have an impact,” he said.

“We wrap all available means of support around everybody that we can.

“That it was way our school is structured.

“We have systems in place to be proactive, talk to kids who are having a bad day, and follow up every lead.

“We make sure we can wrap stuff around that person as best we can.”

Tayesha’s devastated sister, Chi Magee, shared her family’s grief, saying she was “always making jokes, imitations, always laughing and smiling”.

Do you need help? Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.