Students and staff at Marysville’s Early College High School (ECHS) are mourning the death of a student.
According to Union County Coroner’s Office Investigator Lance Emberling, officials were called early Tuesday morning after the girl’s father found her. Emberling confirmed the girl had committed suicide.
In an email sent by Ken Chaffin, ECHS principal, staff was notified about the death of the ECHS freshman at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday.
“(She) was a talented, sweet student who was loved by so many staff and students here at ECHS,” Chaffin wrote in an email. “We are all hurting, but we will be here for each other.”
In response to the tragedy teachers read a prepared statement to their students at the beginning of the day. Additionally, grief counselors and others were at the school to help students.
“Our district crisis support team is on site, and we are carrying out our outlined district plan,” Chaffin wrote. “Students are being supported specific to the intensity of their need in this moment, and are being encouraged to go to the media center for support.”
Chaffin explained that the best thing a parent can do is to talk with children about their feelings and provide the support they need. He also extended the school’s services to any family seeking help.
On Tuesday night, the Marysville Marching Band Facebook page created a post notifying the community about the girl’s death.
The post said the girl was part of the band’s pit section for contest shows this season, “running back and forth from one instrument to another.”
“The Marysville High School Marching Band has sadly lost one of their own today,” the post states. “(She) was rarely seen in the band room without a smile on her face and that smile will be missed.”
On Tuesday, the Mental Health and Recovery Board (MHRB) of Marysville created a post on Facebook about the incident. In the post, MHRB stated, while it honors the privacy of the families affected, “our grief is a community experience.”
Those in need may contact the National Suicide Hotline at 800-731-5577, or text “4help” to the number 85511. These support services are availiable around the clock, officials said.
The MHRB stated walk-in appointments are available at Maryhaven, 715 S. Plum St., Marysville, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.