19-year-old TikTok star Caitlyn Loane committed suicide recently.
Loane was a fourth-generation farmer in Tasmania, Australia.
Another tragic suicide, now all too common among TikTok stars. It will never break my heart to know someone’s struggling with mental health and suicide, knowing that kind of darkness, and that there IS a way out. Please ask for help: 800-273-8255. https://t.co/l4Z8aYV1KU
— SE Cupp (@secupp) July 8, 2021
She rose to social media fame with videos depicting her daily agricultural duties.
Her most watched videos showed her gardening and marking lambs.
In a February video with over 300,000 views, she talked about her love of farming.
Caitlyn said:
“Farming has been in my family for generations and generations. It’s not only that I’m meant to be here, but I really want to be here. When I was 17 I told my parents I got a new job, and we live in Tasmania, it couldn’t have been far away. But when they asked where I was going I told them I was going to the Northern Territory to work on a cattle station. … To my surprise, I really loved the lifestyle over there and being so isolated, because it was a great way to save money. … And I tell you, it was the first time I thought myself of somewhat capable.”
She had over 50,000 followers on her TikTok account catieloane.
Rising TikTok star Caitlyn Loane dead at 19 after haunting final video: A fourth-generation farmer named Caitlyn Loane, who posted popular TikTok clips capturing her action-packed rural lifestyle, took her own life at 19 after posting a haunting final… https:/ /t.co/q45H4qyGVg pic.twitter.com/rVDAmGheVP
— @PhuketDailyNews (@PhuketDailyNews) July 8, 2021
what we know
Loane’s last video appeared on TikTok on June 27.
In it, she is lip-syncing to song lyrics.
Those lyrics were:
“How far would you drive for the girl of your dreams?”
In the caption, she added.
How about Tasmania?
What followed was a montage of photos of her life.
Over 160,000 people watched the video.
Her Family Mourns
As expected, her family is grief-stricken.
Her father Phillip Loane said:
“She was a lovely, crazy young woman who was an invaluable member of our family.”
Richele Loane, her mother, added that Caitlyn’s smile “lit up the room”.
Her mom talked about Caitlyn’s positive influence on young female farmers.
She said:
“[Caitlyn] she was so talented and she loved mentoring younger people…She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty – in some photos she has mud up to her knees,”
Mental Illness Is Real
Although it is sometimes difficult to detect, mental illness is real.
Caitlyn Loane’s tragic death is a testament to this.
Seek professional help or encourage a friend or family member to do so if they appear suicidal.
Help is a phone call away at 800-273-TALK (8255).
The US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is open 24/7.
An online chat option is also available.
