During High School Duchess spoke out on the subject of mental illness and was an advocate for those who suffered from depression. She was working with teachers to identify ways to help girls who were graduating and feared they had no future. These girls are 4 times more likely to end their story prematurely than girls who never had a destiny. Duchess continues her advocacy for the mentally ill and plans on creating a foundation to support girls who feel they have no future. I never mentioned it in school, but I also suffer from depression. I'm proud enough to keep on surviving, to keep on living. Every day is a struggle, yet I keep making it. The suicide rate of girls from Ever After is astronomical. Duchess's school project was eventually shut down due to the controversial policy of asking girls to donate their hair, hands and other body parts prior to committing suicide. "I was just being practical." |