Tilly Rosewarne: Education Minister Sarah Mitchell holds first anti-bullying roundtable

The Education Minister has made a “first step” in addressing the teen suicide crisis, meeting with the mum of bullying victim Tilly Rosewarne as a national first suicide bereavement program begins.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell has held the first of a series of anti-bullying roundtables with the mother of a young girl who died by suicide after she was relentlessly bullied by her peers.

The move marks Ms Mitchell coming good on her promise to make NSW a leader in eradicating bullying and tightening loopholes so victims can get help.

Ms Mitchell met with Emma Mason, the mum of 15-year-old Bathurst teen Matilda “Tilly” Rosewarne who suicided after her schoolmates doctored and spread fake nude images of her on social media site Snapchat.

Tilly’s heartbroken mum has advocated relentlessly to get more support for young people battling bullying.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor, Minister Mitchell’s youth advisory members, representatives from social media giants and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.

Emma Mason (left), mother of 15-year-old teen suicide victim Matilda ‘Tilly’ Rosewarne, joined Education Minister Sarah Mitchell’s first anti-bullying roundtable. Picture: John Feder/The Daily Telegraph.

Ms Mitchell said one of the biggest takeaways of the meeting was tackling the lack of information available about the role of eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant in preventing and addressing online bullying.

“There are three audiences. The first and most important one is young people, so we looked at how we can engage better with them and what resources are available,” she said.

“Second part is how we engage with parents … what are the platforms that mums and dads can access, whether we do some online webinars or put information out through school about the eSafety Commissioner.”

Sweet Bathurst schoolgirl Tilly was relentlessly bullied before ending her life. Picture: Supplied

Ms Mitchell said she would follow up the meeting with more “in-depth” work with young people to determine what initiatives worked best for the demographic.

The Minister said it was special for the stakeholders to hear directly from Ms Mason about her unimaginable loss.

“Today was about the first step. It was really powerful to have Emma Mason in the room and she told her story and shared a really beautiful video of Tilly,” she said.

“It made us all realise that when we talk about this issues, there are young people at the end of it.”

NATIONAL FIRST CAMPS TO HELP KIDS GRIEVING A LOSS

Children reeling with the loss of a parent or sibling to suicide can now attend in-­person and virtual day camps to process their trauma.

Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor has announced the state government is funding Let’s Talk Suicide camps for children aged seven to 17, to be run by mental health charity Feel the Magic.

The organisation previously ran bereavement support camps but the new program, which focuses on coming to terms with suicide will be the first of its kind in Australia.

“Losing a parent or sibling to suicide is devastating. Not only do these children miss out on creating special memories with that family member, but it also makes them much more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts,” Ms Taylor said.

“These camps provide a safe space for children to talk through their pain and loneliness with people who truly understand, as well as learn important skills to manage the waves of grief that will inevitably occur.”

Albion Park mum Nicole Coutts lost her partner Ray Brown five years ago to suicide and it was their son Billy, then 10, who found his dad.

Billy, now 15, attended Feel the Magic’s bereavement camp along with therapy and Ms Coutts said the suicide-specific programs will be a huge support for children in the same situation as her son.

“He went six months after it happened … He was able to try and process what had happened and be around people in the same boat, so he didn’t feel alone,” Ms Coutts said.