May 13th. For most, this was a normal Saturday. Perhaps plans with friends were arranged, or it was a day to relax and recuperate from the hustle and bustle nearing the end of the school year. However, for one past BHS family, it would be a day of unexpected, and indescribable loss. Coming back to school, students would slowly discover the death of a student who was involved in many lives. A swim teammate, an orchestra stand partner, a classmate, or simply a familiar passing face in the halls. While not currently enrolled in BHS, it’s no secret how many lives this student touched while attending.
Some would give their grievances to the family on an obituary tribute page, and some would deal with their grief quietly. For the majority of students, this was a first brush with suicide. “I always remember her saying “We got this!” before every [swimming] set. Her positive and radiant personality was so contagious to be around. Sending love and support to the family for this heartbreaking loss,” recalls Sophie Hanson ’24.
Mental health is an increasingly important issue, with suicide being the second-leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults aged 10-34. With this in mind, it’s more important now than ever to reach out to counselors, friends, or another trusted adult if you’re considering suicide or are having other mental health related problems. If you are concerned for someone else, please do the same. With Mental Health Awareness Month coming to an end, reality serves us a painful reminder that mental health is a discussion that should be happening every month of the year.
Here are some available resources for those struggling:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Text MN to 741741 Crisis Textline
1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Here are some links for more information on suicide preventation and mental health:
National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota
