DALLAS (KRLD) - Communities in Schools of Tarrant County will host a fundraiser Friday evening to raise money for counselors at schools across the area. The Centers for Disease Control says about one in eight high school students attempted suicide in 2017.
"I think it's shocking to many people that it's very prevalent and that it can also be prevalent among people at very young ages," says Communities in Schools of Tarrant County President Lindsey Garner. "You even hear reports of children in elementary school who are contemplating suicide or have made comments about self-harm or harm to others."
Garner says Communities in Schools works with districts to provide counselors. The group is focused on preventing drop-outs. She says social workers will develop a case management plan for each student and make home visits.
"We think we are seeing it's getting worse," says Communities in Schools of Tarrant County President Lindsey Garner. "A lot of that is attributed to our dependence on social media and the false sense of community that creates. People need relationships."
The Search Institute says 22 percent of at-risk students could not identify a "caring adult" in their life. Communities in Schools uses donations and state funding to employ counselors who then are placed on school campuses.
Former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith will speak at the fundraiser Friday evening. Tickets start at $250 and are available here.
