Student tragedies highlight the need for survivors to seek help
A second student who survived the shooting last year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High has died in what police are calling an apparent suicide. It was unclear whether the death was related to last year's shooting.
CORAL SPRINGS – The apparent suicides of two Parkland school shooting survivors in one week underscore the need for increased mental health resources to help those still traumatized by the tragedy.
News of both deaths spread quickly on social media, sending shock waves through a community that is still healing.
“It’s just been unfortunate that we lost another one,” said Ryan Petty, whose 14-year-old daughter, Alaina, was one of the 17 killed last year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Parents, students, school officials and other members of the Stoneman Douglas community met Sunday evening, Petty said. The group discussed the need for awareness and brainstormed what to ask their family and friends who are struggling and where to go for help.
“We have students and staff that are still at risk,” Petty said.
The group also adopted the Columbia Protocol, Petty said, which is a framework for checking whether a family member or friend is in crisis.
After his daughter’s death, Petty launched the Walk Up Foundation to help prevent suicide.
“We have to recognize event like this, there is after an trauma,