Home and Away star Penny McNamee has opened up about her experiences with bullying in a heartfelt post on Instagram.

The actor, who played Tori Morgan on the Australian soap between 2016 and 2021 and returned for a guest appearance earlier this year, said she “felt compelled to write something” amid the recent discussions about bullying in the media.

“When I was 14 I was terribly bullied by a bunch of girls at school. It was underhanded and relentless,” she began.

Channel 5

McNamee continued: “I cried every day for 6 months and lost all sense of joy. God bless my parents who didn’t dismiss it. They took it seriously.

“They spoke to the school, they listened to me and tried to help me with strategies, but when nothing changed, they pulled me out of the school… It felt big and drastic, but it was the best thing they could have done.”

The soap star said that she “thrived” in her new school and found “amazing friends” who she is still friends with today.

She also credited the school with transforming the direction of her life, saying that she met her husband there and won the lead role in the school’s musical, which ultimately led to her performing career.

McNamee then concluded her post with an important message to parents: “I know that bullying can be destructive to your kids, and don’t be afraid to pull them out of the school. I truly feel like it saved my life in a lot of ways.”

We encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Information about how to access support is available via the NHS, and organisations who can offer help include Samaritans on 116 123 or Mind on 0300 123 3393.

Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.