Suicide of Dolly Everett explained

Dolly Everett
Birth Name:Amy Jayne Everett
Birth Place:Katherine, Northern Territory
Birth Date:1 May 2003
Death Place:Queensland, Australia
Death Date:3 January 2018 (aged 14)
Education:Scots PGC College
Occupation:Commercial Adventiser for Akubra
Death Cause:Suicide

Amy Jayne "Dolly" Everett (1 May 2003 – 3 January 2018) was a 14-year-old Australian teenager who died by suicide after extensive bullying. Her death sparked debates about teen suicide, racial and gender imbalance in media reporting of suicide[1] [2] and the dangers of publicity around suicides and emphasising victim playing, glorifying and promoting suicide.

Everett was from Katherine in the Australian Northern Territory and had attended Scots PGC College in Warwick, Queensland.[3] When she was younger, Everett had been a face in advertisements for Akubra hats.[4]

Tributes and legacy

Everett's suicide prompted tributes and reactions, including many from those who had not known her.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] Memorial services for Everett were held in Katherine and Warwick[3] [8] at which mourners were encouraged to wear Everett's favourite colour, blue.[11] [12]

Everett's parents launched a social media campaign using the hashtag #DoItForDolly to raise awareness of the effects of bullying and a foundation called the Dolly's Dream Foundation, with support from the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, which raised over $106,000 in three months by GoFundMe.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] and shared a drawing by Everett, depicting a figure underneath the words "stand up, speak even if your voice shakes", a quote which has since been used to encourage young bullying victims to speak up about their experiences.[18] [19]

The New South Wales Liberal/National Government passed legislation criminalising certain cyberbullying which was referred to as Dolly's Law.[20]

Reporting issues

The Australian Government media initiative, "Mindframe",[21] raised a number of concerns about the way the media were covering the death of Everett.[22] It criticised the media for sharing a memorial video[23] released by Everett's family, suggesting that the promotion of such public memorials should be avoided, due to the risk it posed to those experiencing similar life circumstances, or who were having suicidal thoughts.[22] Mindframe also urged the media to stop implying Everett's suicide was caused solely by cyberbullying.[22]

In the wake of Everett's death, there were also calls to ban or police social media apps known to be used for cyberbullying, such as Sarahah.[24] [25] However, some commentators, such as Ginger Gorman, described the calls as knee-jerk reactions that would likely be ineffective and could potentially remove online support for bullying victims.[26]

Other commentators viewed the substantial media interest and public outcry generated by Everett's death as an example of what they perceived to be an indifference to an ongoing youth suicide crisis among Aboriginal Australians, which attracts little media interest.[27] [28]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.welcometocountry.org/dolly-everett-exposed-australias-indifference-to-aboriginal-suicide-crisis Dolly Everett exposed Australia's indifference to the Aboriginal suicide crisis
  2. Georgatos, Gerry (18 January 2018) The passing of a child by suicide, The Stringer. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  3. Wurm, Elyse (13 January 2018) Goodbye: Warwick farewells Dolly in intimate service, Warwick Daily News, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  4. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42631208 Akubra girl Dolly's bullying suicide shocks Australia
  5. Sullivan, Rebecca (10 January 2018) Tributes for 14-year-old Dolly Everett flow in following her tragic suicide, news.com.au, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  6. Roe, Isobel (12 January 2018) Dolly Everett: 'Heartbroken' Malcolm Turnbull joins bullying debate in wake of 14-year-old girl's suicide, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  7. Marsh, Vanessa (14 January 2018) Jeff Horn pledges to beat bullies after suicide of Amy 'Dolly' Everett, The Courier-Mail, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  8. Sorensen, Hayley (13 January 2018) Heartbroken mourners say goodbye to Amy 'Dolly' Everett in Katherine, NT News, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  9. Ingall, Jennifer (22 January 2018) Star Maker winner pays tribute to 'Dolly' Everett, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  10. Smith, Ella (17 January 2018) Tamworth singer-songwriter Hattie Oates pays tribute to Dolly Everett, Northern Daily Leader, Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  11. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42657228 Bullying suicide: Mourners were blue for Akubra girl
  12. Wurm, Elyse (12 January 2018) Blue Day: Wear Dolly's favourite shade today, Warwick Daily News, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  13. https://www.gofundme.com/DollysDream Dolly's Dream
  14. McKay, Pam (13 February 2018) CQ rodeo raises huge amount for Dolly's legacy, Central Queensland News, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  15. Shafik, Danni (23 January 2018) Ale and hearty drinkers top up Dolly's Dream fund, Danni Shafik, Townsville Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  16. McCormack, Madura (7 February 2018) Koumala to do it for Dolly, The Daily Mercury, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  17. De Kruijff, Peter (23 February 2018) Cattlemen's drive helps Dolly's charity, The Kimberley Echo, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  18. Graham, Ben (11 January 2018) Dolly's family release their daughter's final drawing, news.com.au, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  19. O'Brien, Kristy (10 January 2018) Cyber-bullying campaign launched after suicide of Akubra face Amy 'Dolly' Everett, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  20. https://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/media-news/media-releases/2018/dolly-law.aspx "Dolly's Law" - putting cyberbullies on notice
  21. http://www.mindframe-media.info/home/about-mindframe About Mindframe
  22. http://www.mindframe-media.info/home/news/news/2018/media-alert-reporting-on-passing-of-dolly-everett Media alert: Reporting on passing of Dolly Everett
  23. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-11/a-video-pays-tribute-to-amy-dolly-everett/9321964 Video: Amy 'Dolly' Everett's family released this video montage as a tribute to their daughter
  24. Marsh, Vanessa (12 January 2018) Cyberbullying: Parents want app shut down, The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  25. AAP (15 January 2018) Queensland mother's petition to ban social media app Sarahah passes 100,000 signatures, The Courier Mail. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  26. Gorman, Ginger (15 January 2018) Banning social media apps wouldn't have saved Dolly, news.com.au, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  27. https://www.welcometocountry.org/dolly-everett-exposed-australias-indifference-to-aboriginal-suicide-crisis Dolly Everett exposed Australia's indifference to the Aboriginal suicide crisis
  28. Georgatos, Gerry (18 January 2018) The death of a child by suicide, The Stringer. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

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