Downingtown Loses Another Teen As Crowd Gathered To Mourn Others

DOWNINGTOWN, PA — Only hours before hundreds gathered at Kerr Park to mourn losses in Downingtown to suicide, a ninth-grade student died by suicide.

The Lights of Hope event in Downingtown drew almost 600 people out on Sunday night to grieve as a community four recent deaths by suicide of both students and a school staff member.

Downingtown Area School District notified parents Monday afternoon, saying, "After last night’s community event bound our residents together in support of our students, and with the sense of anticipation and celebration that this week usually brings, I have received the devastating news that our community has suffered another tragic loss."

The devastating news was that on Sunday afternoon, former ninth-grade student Ethan Proud died by suicide. The school district said Proud had left DASD to attend another school. "But as a student who had been a part of our district for many years, he was no less a member of our DASD family," the district's statement said.

DASD Superintendent Dr. Emilie Lonardi said in the June 7 message, "The losses we have experienced this year have devastated our community. There are no words to heal the heartbreak. While we have persistently dedicated our district to improving mental health curriculum and supports in our schools, we must and will do more. We must come together to end the stigma surrounding mental health and get help into the hands of those who need it most. We are facing a national epidemic and we are committed to fighting; we cannot and will not stand idly by."

At the Lights of Hope event, Downingtown High School students shared what has been lost to them, as adults underscored the importance of recognizing and destigmatizing mental health.

"Thank you for saying their names and speaking truth and love tonight. We all must come together to save our loved ones from the darkness of despair. Each of us can do our part to break the stigma of mental illness and bring light to silent suffering and help someone to hold on for one more day," said PA State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten (D-155th).

Megan Bruton organized the grassroots event in Downingtown in response to suffering mental health, especially among teens. Trish Salome stepped up in West Chester, and Gabrielle Bradley organized in Coatesville, the three events planned for June 6 at 8 p.m.

Bruton said she wanted "to honor not only our latest victim who was our second student lost in just over a month, but also the previous four who our students have been mourning the past couple of years. We also recently lost a teacher," she said.

Lonardi told the grieving community, "We are aware that our students and community are still grieving previous losses and we are committed to supporting our students and staff through this challenging time. In the coming weeks and months, we will work closely with mental health professionals both locally and nationally. We are exploring additional ways to solicit feedback from our students, families, and staff in the fall and will communicate more information as we solidify our plan."

Last week DASD principals sent home with students the contact information for their school’s counselors and prevention specialists. The district explained they are all trained in crisis intervention and suicide screenings.

"It is going to take the support of our entire community to wrap our collective arms around our children. If you would like help speaking with your child or have any questions or concerns, please contact your school administrator, counselor, or prevention specialist. We are here for you and will never stop fighting for our students," Lonardi said.

Bruton explained that Downingtown has been reeling after last week's tragic death of a Downingtown West High School athlete Costantino Villari who died by suicide on May 24 and the earlier death of Rhyland McCullough, both teen deaths by suicide. McCollough's parents, James and Jennifer Moore started this petition for additional resources in our Downingtown Area School District, including calling for the hiring of a Director of Mental Health and collaboration with nearby school districts that have programs in place. Jenn Moore has started the Rhy’s Above Foundation in his honor.

Rhys Above Foundation said in a post after the Lights of Hope event, "Thank you to everyone who showed up tonight at Downingtown Lights of Hope to celebrate and remember the lives our community lost to suicide, to offer support to our neighbors that are struggling, and to inspire us all to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. We are your neighbors. We love you. We are listening."

Salome, who organized the West Goshen event, said, "It was a beautiful evening and I'm so thankful for the support in our community. My hope is that others, individuals and communities will begin to heal and inspire hope in all of our communities. We need to stand together and lift up each other before we lose another life too soon."

"It's very difficult to heal and act when there’s so much pain," she added. "We need people who aren't hurting so badly to help. We need people to be brave for those who are hurting. We need to do this together."

Coatesville Area High School students last week sent a signed banner to Downingtown West High School, reassuring their neighboring students "No one fights alone." The banner was in response to the school community's losses.

A GoFundMe site in Villari's honor has raised more than $46,000 to aid his family.

Chester County Coroner Christina VandePol, M.D. reports 15 deaths by suicide in the county since the beginning of 2021.

Chester County's Suicide Prevention Task Force webpage can be found here.

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