Teenage TikTok agvocate from Australia dies by suicide

Caitlyn Loane was a 19-year-old fourth-generation farmer in Australia who celebrated rural life through her numerous TikTok videos. Her bio says her goal was “promoting women in agriculture,” and she was a star in this space, having over 53,000 followers and hundreds of thousands of likes on her videos. A few days ago, Loane posted a final hauntingly upbeat video, and on Thursday, she died by suicide.

“Words can’t describe our loss,” Loane’s family told the Daily Mail, a U.K.-based media outlet.

The young woman had been working as a livestock manager at her parents’ 1,400-acre cattle farm in Tasmania. She was widely considered to be a trailblazer in showcasing women in ag on the social media platform TikTok.

Loane’s final video, which currently has over 200,000 views, can be seen here:

@catieloane

Who’s driving to Tasmania ##womeninag

♬ original sound – hunter paige

That video was published June 26 and is titled Who’s driving to Tasmania #womeninag. It includes a series of stills of her working on her family’s farm.

Friends and fans poured out their love and heartbreak for Loane on Facebook and in the comments of her final TikTok video. Her energy, her smile, and her work ethic were among the things many people said they will miss the most.

Loane has 47 videos posted, dating back to the summer of 2020. Included in them are:

@catieloane

Concentrating on the job ##ausfarmers

♬ original sound – Catie Loane

@catieloane

Look.. if Murial can, so can you boys

♬ original sound – David J

It’s unclear publicly what led to this. Many in agriculture know too well the stresses that this industry can produce, and mental wellness has been at the forefront of many conversations in recent years. Nonprofits, government programs, and neighbors and communities have all been tasked to take greater steps to recognize the signs of someone being in trouble and needing help.

Here is a list of resources for those who may be struggling with mental wellness: