A father in Maine is hoping to raise awareness of the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of young people after he said the effects of the crisis led to his son’s death by suicide.
Spencer Smith, a 16-year-old sophomore at Brunswick High School, died by suicide on Friday, NBC News reported.
The teenager’s father, Jay Smith, spoke to the broadcaster about his son’s death, explaining that his son was struggling to cope with the isolating effects of the pandemic on his everyday life.
"We knew he was upset because he was no longer able to participate in his school activities, football. We never guessed it was this bad," Mr Smith told NBC News on Tuesday.
"Looking back now we could see little things that we should have caught but we didn't realise his mental health was deteriorating as bad."
The 16-year-old had spent the summer exercising in the hope of playing on the school's football team, his father said, but the pandemic derailed his plans after new guidelines forced the school to modify the game.
"It wasn't the same type of practice because they had to social distance. He didn't like that part of it," Mr Smith explained.
According to his father, Spencer eventually stopped exercising and the teenager struggled to adjust to remote learning, causing his grades to decline.
Mr Smith told NBC News that he was sharing Spencer’s story in the hope it might encourage other teenagers to seek help if they are experiencing deteriorating mental health amid the pandemic.
"There's help out there," he said. "This pandemic can't last forever and if they're feeling alone and depressed, they need to reach out for help. Things will get better. I ask parents to talk to their children."
In light of the tragedy, the Brunswick School Department said that counseling and bereavement support services will be available for students and staff.
"It’s really important if you or your child is not feeling well in any way to reach out for help," Phillip Potenziano, the superintendent of schools, said in a statement on Friday. "Suicide should not be an option."
If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
For services local to you, the national mental health database – Hub of Hope – allows you to enter your postcode to search for organisations and charities who offer mental health advice and support in your area.
