Another child who attended Asheville Academy for Girls in Weaverville, North Carolina, has died by suicide, according to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. This marks the second such tragedy connected to the residential treatment center within a month, raising urgent concerns about the safety and oversight of the facility.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) confirmed in a May 30 email to the Citizen Times that it is currently on-site conducting an investigation into the academy. This development follows the agency’s decision just two days earlier to suspend new admissions to Asheville Academy. The suspension came after an earlier investigation uncovered that the facility was operating in violation of both state law and licensing regulations governing providers of mental health, substance use disorder, and developmental disability services.
The most recent death has intensified scrutiny surrounding the residential school, which markets itself as a therapeutic program for girls ages 10 to 14 who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other emotional challenges.
Just weeks ago, on May 3, a 13-year-old student at Asheville Academy also died by suicide, a tragedy that first brought the facility under the spotlight. That incident prompted mounting calls from mental health advocates, community members, and families for increased transparency and accountability.
While details surrounding the most recent child’s death have not yet been made public, both deaths appear to have occurred during or shortly after their time at the school. The sheriff’s office continues to investigate, and the names and identifying details of the children have not been released out of respect for the families’ privacy.
The growing pattern of concern at Asheville Academy is not without precedent. Residential treatment centers nationwide have faced heightened criticism in recent years over allegations of neglect, abuse, and inadequate mental health care. In light of these two suicides, state officials are now facing renewed pressure to impose stricter oversight and possibly reevaluate licensing procedures for such facilities.
NCDHHS has not provided a timeline for when its investigation will be completed but emphasized that the safety and well-being of children in residential care remains a top priority. The agency has assured the public that it will take “all necessary actions” to ensure that providers comply with state laws and deliver care in a safe, supportive environment.
Parents and former residents have begun sharing their own experiences online, many expressing heartbreak, outrage, and calls for justice. Advocacy groups are also urging lawmakers to reexamine the systems that allowed the facility to remain in operation despite prior warnings and complaints.
As the community mourns another young life lost, there is a growing demand for answers, accountability, and reform. The back-to-back suicides serve as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of mental health support—and the devastating consequences when it falls short.
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