Parkland community ‘shocked’ after student’s suicide — the second in a week, officials say

PARKLAND, Fla. — In the span of one week, two teenagers have died by apparent suicide in this Florida community still grieving the loss of 17 teachers and students in a deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last year.

The mother of a recent graduate told CBS Miami last week that her daughter, Sydney Aiello, had taken her own life. Aiello, 19, was a senior at the school during the massacre. One of her friends, Meadow Pollack, was killed. In the year since the shooting, Aiello had struggled with survivor’s guilt and had recently been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, her mother said.

During the weekend, word began to spread that another Parkland teenager had also died in what authorities called an “apparent suicide.” The student’s name and age were not released, and authorities said the death was under investigation.

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Bullying and Suicide

The relationship between bullying and suicide is complex. Many media reports oversimplify this relationship, insinuating or directly stating that bullying can cause suicide. The facts tell a different story. In particular, it is not accurate and potentially dangerous to present bullying as the “cause” or “reason” for a suicide, or to suggest that suicide is a natural response to bullying. We recommend media not use the word “bully-cide.”

  • Research indicates that persistent bullying can lead to or worsen feelings of isolation, rejection, exclusion, and despair, as well as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to suicidal behavior.
  • The vast majority of young people who are bullied do not become suicidal.
  • Most young people who die by suicide have multiple risk factors.
  • Some youth, such as LGBT youth, are at increased risk for suicide attempts even when bullying is not a factor.
  • A recent CDC publication provides more information on the relationship between bullying and suicide.

Read more about the possible harm of connecting bullying and suicide in what to avoid.

Above article found at:  https://www.stopbullying.gov/media/facts/index.html#target