Weaverville, North Carolina – A second student death by suicide has been reported at Asheville Academy for Girls, a residential treatment facility in Weaverville, raising serious concerns over the center’s safety practices and oversight. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident, which marks the second suicide linked to the academy in less than a month.
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North Carolina Health Authorities Launch Investigation
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) confirmed via email on May 30 that it is actively investigating Asheville Academy. This investigation follows an earlier decision, announced just two days prior, to suspend all new admissions to the facility due to multiple violations of state regulations governing licensed providers of mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services.
A Troubling Pattern at Asheville Academy
Asheville Academy, which markets itself as a therapeutic program for girls aged 10 to 14 dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, and related emotional challenges, is now under intense scrutiny. The latest suicide follows the May 3 death of a 13-year-old student, also ruled a suicide, which garnered national attention and sparked public outcry.
While details of the most recent incident have not been disclosed—out of respect for the family’s privacy—authorities confirmed that the death occurred either during the child’s enrollment or shortly thereafter. The Sheriff’s Office has not yet released the name of the student, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Advocates Call for Transparency and Reform
Mental health advocates, grieving parents, and community members are calling for greater transparency, accountability, and systemic reform. Former residents and families have begun sharing their own troubling experiences at Asheville Academy, echoing concerns of neglect, inadequate care, and a lack of oversight that critics say contributed to these tragedies.
These incidents have reignited a national conversation around the operations of residential treatment centers, many of which have faced longstanding allegations of abuse, neglect, and insufficient mental health resources.
State Response and Oversight Concerns
In response to growing criticism, NCDHHS emphasized that child safety is the agency’s top priority, and promised that “all necessary steps” will be taken to ensure compliance with state law and care standards. However, no timeline has been provided for when the current investigation will conclude.
Public pressure is mounting on both state and federal lawmakers to re-evaluate how residential facilities are licensed, monitored, and held accountable, particularly those catering to vulnerable youth populations.
A Community in Mourning, A Nation Demanding Answers
The deaths have sent shockwaves through the Weaverville and greater Buncombe County community. Local residents, many of whom are only now learning about the center’s troubled history, have joined national advocates in demanding immediate reforms to prevent further loss of life.
Online, grieving families and former students are sharing heartbreaking testimonies, and advocacy groups are pressing for policy changes that would include mandatory third-party audits, stronger reporting mechanisms, and improved mental health standards in youth facilities.
A Critical Wake-Up Call for Mental Health Care in Youth Facilities
The back-to-back suicides at Asheville Academy are a sobering reminder of what is at stake when mental health care fails vulnerable children. These tragedies have sparked urgent discussions about the effectiveness, ethics, and regulation of therapeutic boarding schools and residential treatment centers across the U.S.
As investigations continue, families, lawmakers, and child welfare experts are united in one urgent message: reform cannot wait.