Giving Compass' Take:

• Jessica Campisi reports that suicides by survivors of school shootings highlight the dearth of essential mental health supports needed to prevent compounding tragedy.

• How can funders work to effectively fill the gap in mental health supports? 

• Learn about the funding gap for mental health. 

Many months, or even years, after two communities were rattled by school shootings, a string of suicides among those tied to the tragedies have resurfaced the devastation.

Sydney Aiello, who graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, died by suicide. Aiello, 19, survived the Parkland, Florida, shooting that killed 14 students and three staff members, and she reportedly struggled with survivor’s guilt and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

About a week later, a second survivor and current Stoneman Douglas student, 16-year-old Calvin Desir, took his own life. Jeremy Richman, whose daughter was one of 20 children and six adults killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, died in an apparent suicide.

“It's tragedy after tragedy and just compounds that sense of devastation,” said Amy Klinger, co-founder and director of programs for the Educator’s School Safety Network. “It really speaks to the need for supports and interventions and recovery, which is oftentimes not addressed.”

She added, “These are indicative of a much larger systemic problem.”

The string of suicides, and especially those of the Parkland students, have shed light on the realities of the long-term impacts of trauma and how it’s addressed in communities.

“Often, tragedy strikes at a school ... and the school community rallies and deals with the problem. Parkland is unique in that the tragedy was so huge that it won't just go away,” said Hank Resnik, the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning’s senior advisor for communications. “It's a tragedy that won't die.”

After the shooting last February, Stoneman Douglas had counselors available for students and staff, and in the wake of recent events, stakeholders are amplifying their efforts to address trauma and identify those who might need help. With these suicides occurring more than a year after the massacre, it’s clear that recovery doesn’t happen quickly.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. 1-800-273-8255

Read the full article about insufficient mental health supports by Jessica Campisi at Education Dive.