Ashley Jadine Duncan
I am Ashley Jadine Duncan. I was 17 years old when I died by suicide. I never fit the profile of someone who others thought would contemplate taking my own life. You see, people think there is a "profile" for people who die by suicide. I did not fit the profile. However, the warning signs were there.
Look at me. I was beautiful! These pictures show me when I was happy. I had a lot of friends. My family loved me. I made good grades. I enjoyed helping others. I played sports. Everything about me said "high achiever". On top of everything else, I was an award-winning, talented artist. My family was not economically at risk and I attended one of the top high schools in my city. I had nearly 4,000 followers on Twitter and hundreds more on Tumblr and Facebook, where I ultimately shared my feelings up to the point in which I died. My "friends" "liked" my posts, but no one reached out to help me. When people saw me, they first noticed my smile . . . I knew how to wear the mask well! Because of my mask, people thought I was joking, until I finally got a gun.
My mom tried to help me. The laws allowed me to slip through the cracks because at age 16, as long as I "said" I wasn't going to hurt myself, I got to go home. I'm someone so many people loved. I am your friend. I am your child. I am your spouse. I am your neighbor. I am a kid on your child's sports team. I am your co-worker. Or maybe, I am you. I died on January 30, 2012, but many like me are still going through the same or similar struggles and considering suicide.
I expressed my pain. I cried out for help in many ways. Yet, it seemed to be hiding in plain sight.
"I might not struggle financially but I struggle emotionally and mentally and I think that's the worst struggle."
~ Ashley Duncan
Ashley’s Art…
Ashley loved art. She was recognized as a gifted artist and won numerous awards in competitions with her father. What better way to showcase the wonderful pieces she left behind than through this silent auction in her honor and in support of the Ashley Jadine Foundation. Her use of color, light, and shadows gives us a view of how she saw the world and expressed it through her art.
Born From Grief, Built On Purpose
Founded by Cheryl Duncan, the Ashley Jadine Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established in loving memory of her daughter, Ashley Jadine Duncan.
Cheryl's journey into advocacy for mental health and suicide prevention began after personal tragedy struck her family not once, but twice. In 1995, her sister died by suicide at the age of 31. Then in 2012, Cheryl lost her daughter, Ashley, in the same heartbreaking way. These deeply personal losses opened Cheryl’s eyes to the staggering statistics surrounding suicide and the profound, lasting effects it has on those left behind.
When Ashley first began showing signs of depression, Cheryl quickly learned just how difficult and overwhelming it could be to navigate the mental health system—especially when seeking help for a teenager struggling with emotional instability. As Ashley grew older, it became even more of a challenge. Like many parents, Cheryl found herself feeling helpless as her daughter’s age granted her more autonomy over the kind of treatment she could accept or refuse.
Ashley turned increasingly to social media—Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook—to express her inner thoughts and emotions. Unfortunately, neither of her parents nor her brother used those platforms, so many of her silent cries for help went unnoticed at home. Despite her visible online posts, those in her digital circles didn’t recognize or act on the warning signs. There was not enough visible evidence to justify extended treatment, and the opportunity for timely intervention was lost.
Cheryl’s experience has driven home the urgent need for increased awareness about the role of social media in youth mental health—and the importance of parental engagement in monitoring their children's online activity. Denial, shame, and isolation often surround families who have lost a loved one to suicide. Cheryl hopes to break that silence.
The Ashley Jadine Foundation was created to offer support, resources, and—most importantly—hope to those affected by suicide and depression. Cheryl believes that by recognizing the signs, encouraging conversation, and being proactive, more lives can be saved. She prays that the foundation’s work helps ignite hope in those who may feel hopeless.
Pain is temporary. Hold on. There is HOPE.
