Parkland shooting survivor Sydney Aiello commits suicide; she was recently diagnosed with PTSD
Sydney Aiello, 19, who survived the Parkland shooting, killed herself on Sunday according to police in Cococnut Creek, Florida. The former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was friends with Meadow Pollack, who tragically lost her life in the massacre on February 14, 2018. Cara Aiello, Sydney's mother said the recent graduate was on campus that fateful day.
Cara said her daughter struggled with survivor's guilt and was recently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, following the massacre that left 17 students dead. Sydney struggled with college attendance and feared being in a classroom according to Wesh, an NBC affiliate.
After delivering a biting, emotional speech at the White House, delivered shortly after the shooting, Meadow's father, Andrew, became a prominent figure for Parkland victims'. In his speech, he argued for school safety, rather than changes in gun laws according to CBS News.
Ryan Petty's daughter, Alaina, who died in the shooting is worried more students will take their lives from being traumatized by the event and has focussed his grief toward suicide prevention. "It breaks my heart that we've lost yet another student from Stoneman Douglas," Petty told CBS Miami. "My advice to parents is to ask questions, don't wait."
A GoFundMe page was set up for the teen to cover funeral costs.
A little more than a year after this photo was taken, both are gone.
— Kenneth Preston (@kennethrpreston) March 21, 2019
In February, Meadow was killed in the Parkland shooting. This week, Sydney took her own life.
Please consider donating to her family to help cover some of the funeral costs. https://t.co/qxeUeFLhx1 pic.twitter.com/xSnMPAU0bD
President and CEO of the Children’s Services Council of Broward County, Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, stated it is vital parents look for signs in kids like self harm behavior and avoiding taking part in important activities. Seltzer said: “Parents have to be a little more aggressive when they see those signs and not just wait for the child to ask for help and maybe take them to those resources.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)