Ashley Smith: A Case of Not Connecting the Dots

Running Head: ASHLEY SMITH, A CASE OF NOT CONNECTING THE DOTS
ASHLEY SMITH, A CASE OF NOT CONNECTING THE DOTS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ASHLEY SMITH, A CASE OF NOT CONNECTING THE DOTS
It is not always easy to realize the psychological changes that adolescence brings in a
human being. Sometimes such changes may seem unusual. This happened in case of Ashley
Smith, a teen-age girl, who became excessively rebellious during her adolescent period.
Unfortunately, instead of receiving proper counselling, she received solitary confinement
frequently for her defiant behavior and childish pranks. Finally, Segregation, loneliness,
inappropriate environment inside Grand Valley Institution for women in Kitchener, Ontario;
result into self-instigated strangulation of Ashley. Ashley’s death was a shock to the mass
because of two reasons. The primary workers in Grand Valley Institution who witnessed her
committing suicide, videotaped the last few moments of Ashley, instead of saving her. Again,
she had to die inside a prison though she had never committed any serious criminal offense
(Bromwich, 2017).
Ashley was born in New Brunswick in the year 1988. She was the adopted child of
Coralee Smith and Herbert Gober. Her defiant nature and disobedience became prominent,
when she stepped into her teen-age in the year 2001.Like other specially abled children she
had committed a series of blunders during her childhood, but, this was not the real cause
behind such a tragic end of her life. A detailed analysis of all the significant incidents of Ms.
Smith’s life reveals that there were several scopes for saving her life and improving her
mental health as well.
Firstly, Herb and Coralee witnessed the disruptive behavior of Ashley long before her
imprisonment. At that point of time her parents should have realized that Ashley needed to
undergo a treatment of counselling. Often teen-agers who seem non-compliant, try to find
their own selves, their potentialities, in their own ways, without following manners or rules
imposed by others. Along with counselling such children need extra care from parents and
opportunities to explore themselves. Unfortunately, this did not happen with Ashley. Even
after several suspension of Ashley from her school her parents did not felt any urgency to

2ASHLEY SMITH, A CASE OF NOT CONNECTING THE DOTS
consult a psychiatrist. Her parents could not estimate the severity of the situation until she
had to face youth court nearly 14 times at the tender age of 15 (Balfour,2017). Undergoing
the process of judgement in youth court also affected the mental health of Ashley badly.
Hence the lack of proper attention from parents is one of the most significant point which
should be highlighted here. More love and care on the part of the parents were needed. The
intervention of the youth court, could be avoided if her parents were able to evoke their
consciousness earlier. Implementing different methods of counselling would have helped
Ashley to rectify herself. The intervention of psychological tests, counselling on time would
have given Ashley a better mental health as well as a better future.
Secondly, another significant incident is that the punishment received by Ashley were
unnecessarily harsh. Once Ashley followed one of her teacher home and banged on her door
again and again. As a result, police were informed and Ashley was suspended from school for
a period of 5 days (Bromwich & Kilty, 2017). The incidences of several suspension,
intervention of police created a hostile environment for Ashley. Such unacceptance made her
more stubborn. Here, cooperation on the part of the teacher as well as school were needed.
Several steps should be implemented, to keep Ashley away from adverse situations. Instead
of calling police, the teacher should have interacted with Ashley gently, allowing her express
herself. The school should have discussed this matter with her parents and arranged
counselling. These should be the specific interventions, which would teach Ashley the
difference between the right and wrong. This positive and friendly attitude towards Ashley
would make her feel that she was not different and not alone too. In fact, these specific
interventions would improve her mental health easily and the end of her life would not be
tragic.
Thirdly, Ashley was admitted to a diagnostic and treatment center in March 2003.
There she was accused of being unruly and discharged without the proper the treatment