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Updated: 4:57 PM EDT May 15, 2026Editorial Standards ⓘ
Christina Watkins
Weekend Anchor
Updated: 4:57 PM EDT May 15, 2026Editorial Standards ⓘ
Christina Watkins
Weekend Anchor
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. —
It’s been seven months since three high school athletes in Seminole County died by suicide in the same week
The tragic loss changed how some parents, guardians and peers talk about mental wellness
Seminole County schools grappling with loss after three students died this week
Other students in Central Florida are also doing what they can to strike out the stigma
The Wekiva High School softball team is raising awareness about mental health through their annual “Strike Out Stigma” game, an event dedicated to normalizing conversations about wellness and honoring Amanda Krafton, a former teammate who died by suicide
“This honor sleeve represents her and why we do Strike Out Stigma,” said Kyla Florestil, a senior on the team
The close-knit team, which includes players from freshmen to seniors, balances the pressures of sports and academics while emphasizing their humanity and mental wellness. Their coach, Ms. Taylor McGowan, a social worker, is committed to supporting the players’ well-being
Central Florida high school, college students normalize conversation around mental health
“If she notices something’s off, she will come to you immediately, check up on you, see how you’re doing,” Florestil said. “She’s not afraid to actually ask you how you’re doing. She always wants to make sure you’re alright and she always finds a way to help you out.”
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among student-athletes ages 15 to 24, according to research. A 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that 40% of teenagers felt persistently sad or hopeless and one in five reported having suicidal thoughts
“Please talk to somebody. Because I hate to hear someone lose a life to suicide because of all the struggles they went through,” Florestil said
This hit close to home last October in Seminole County. Three student-athletes died by suicide in the same week
Steven Young, outgoing president of the Seminole County Council PTA, worked to rally the community in response to the tragedy
“Because I’m within the PTA, I had other parents reach out to me. Everybody had questions, and we’re saddened,” Young said. “And I think the thought at that point was, obviously, be there for those families, support them however they felt they needed to be supported.”
Young helped organize a free event called “Stay, Tomorrow Needs You,” which features nearly two dozen mental health providers listed on the council’s website
The event serves as an open forum for families to ask questions and gather re
Community gathers in Seminole County to talk mental health after student suicides
“You may feel like, ‘Hey, I don’t need those reaid
Experts stress the importance of spreading awareness and fostering open dialogue
Dr. Raquel Jones, director of mental health and performance at the University of Central Florida Athletic Department, emphasized the value of listening without judgment
“If or when a student-athlete or friend decides to open up, you want to be there and present, to listen without judgment or without even rushing to fix things,” Jones said. “Sometimes it’s just a matter of being there to be a listening ear.”
