In Chester County, suicide rates in the 2014-2018 period increased by .6% since the previous period to a whopping 11.8% (health.pa.gov). In Downingtown alone, we have seen far too many suicides on the news, including from the DASD.

Despite this, the amount of counselors and resources within DASD schools are limited. We are tired of seeing “another student from Downingtown has committed suicide” and continuing to see no change within the system and schools.

Giving out the National Suicide Hotline number is not enough. Simply giving encouragement and condolences is not enough. Without initiative taken for accessible, available mental health resources, change cannot and will not be made. We can no longer sit around and wait for more of our student body to suffer and make irreversible, devastating choices before help can be accessible.

There are not enough counselors to meet the needs of the student body. In Downingtown East alone, there are 1,749 students. There are ten counselors. This means 1 counselor for about every 175 students.

In Downingtown West alone, there are 1,646 students. There are 8 counselors. This means 1 counselor for about every 205 students.

We are not asking to fix the problem of teen suicide, but rather we are asking that you take into consideration that suicides are not stopping, only increasing, so initiative needs to be taken in order to see change.