PA ImagesA second Parkland shooting survivor has died in an ‘apparent suicide’, according to reports, just a week after another student of the school took their own life.
The students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were devastated to hear a college freshman named Sydney Aiello took her own life on March 17, aged just 19.
She was among the faculty who’d survived a mass shooting at the school on Valentine’s Day, 2018.
Three faculty members and 14 students were killed when a gunman opened fire, including Aiello’s longtime friend, Meadow Pollack.
Syndey’s mother Cara Aiello said her daughter was consumed with survivor’s guilt and recently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the massacre, according to CBS Miami.
It seems another student, identified only as a male sophomore, has died in ‘an apparent suicide’ on the night of Saturday 23 March, reported by The Miami Herald, citing local police and sources.
GettyIn the aftermath of the shooting, child psychotherapist Dr Valerie Sinason told UNILAD how trauma on such a large, community-wide scale can leave young people suffering with PTSD for years to come.
Dr Sinason explained ‘feeling heard’ by counsellors, supportive friends and family members can alleviate victims’ symptoms of PTSD, but added this is a type of incomparable childhood trauma.
Here’s some advice to help spot the signs of someone feeling suicidal:
She added:
Nevertheless, a mass shooting is a different order of trauma. From Columbine onwards this is a particular American tragedy with post traumatic stress disorder being the largest result.
While some with huge support networks and lucky personalities escape relatively unscathed, PTSD symptoms can last for years. However the community trauma adds to the pain of the child victims.
Also those closest to young people killed have the highest symptoms.
The shooter has pleaded not guilty and awaits a trial tentatively scheduled to begin in 2020.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues, and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found at Suicide.org.
Save a life. Take the free suicide prevention training provided by Zero Suicide Alliance today.
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