In the 2020-21 school year alone, the Dover School District reports 25 students have reported suicide ideation, often called suicidal thoughts or ideas. The New Hampshire Suicide Prevention annual report found that in 2019, 1 in 5 high school-aged students surveyed reported having seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, while 1 in 14 reported having made an attempt. “That was the cause and suicide was just the means.” Addressing mental health in Dover “I like to say that Brian died from depression,” Fanning said. By the time we found out the extent, it was too late.”įollowing the loss of their loved one, these grieving families have become mental health advocates, sharing their stories with hopes that it will help others. It did take us a long time to really see how deep Brian's issues were, but I learned in retrospect that you cannot see what they don't want you to see. “Nobody ever told me that was a sign, that these breaks often happen with people who are suicidal. “He seemed so happy and I went to bed that night feeling relieved, thinking we're getting a little break and maybe he’ll feel a little better,” Fanning said. Schultz spent his final day participating in the things he loved, eating dinner with the family and playing games with his brother. He was in crisis, and at the time there was no meaningful help.” “In retrospect, when I look back on Brian’s reluctance to get help, it is because that's what help looked like to him. “At this point we were aware that he was struggling significantly,” Fanning said. After he spent a few days in the ER, Fanning said, she was told there were no psychiatric beds available in any facility in New Hampshire or Massachusetts for at least a few days, if not weeks.
The family was advised to go immediately to the emergency room. When Schultz started expressing suicidal thoughts on social media, a few of his friends notified the school, Fanning said. Schultz was a percussionist in the Green Wave Marching Band and Concert Band, a former member of the Dover Middle School Drama Club and a participant of the STEM-based organization Destination Imagination. He had such a promising life ahead of him, so much to offer the world, and we were all denied that.”
“You know, it's still hard for us to sit down for a family dinner because there's an empty chair.
“Mostly what I miss is our family times because a suicide changes your family dynamics,” Fanning said, her voice cracking. Schultz’s grandmother, Kimberly Fanning, remembers her grandson Brian as “one of the kindest, most compassionate kids you would ever want to meet.” He was what she calls an adventurer, remembering fondly the time they spent riding “the biggest, baddest” roller coasters, parasailing and attending Broadway plays together. “Superintendent William Harbron contacted Community Partners, saying we need to do more to address mental health because the schools can't do this alone,” said Jodi Langellotti, a Steering Committee member with DMHA. The group works closely with the school district, the community and the county to train people in mental health first aid at no cost. From this, the Dover Mental Health Alliance was born in 2019. 7, 2019 sparked an awareness in the community that more needed to be done on the mental health front. 9, 2018 and Dover High School freshman Brian Schultz, 14, on Feb. The deaths of Dover Middle School eighth-grader Alex L. Two previous suicides in Dover's Class of 2022 Students were left wondering what the community is doing to address mental health, with several commencement speeches touching on mental health and suicide awareness. Many members of the class wore teal and purple ribbons in his memory and to promote mental health awareness. “If his death, his story, can save other people from making that choice, then he’s still making a difference that will change the world.”Īt Dover’s Class of 2021 graduation on June 16, friends of Schaeffer spoke about the importance of addressing mental health in the schools and in the community. “Andre always said he was going to change the world,” Ames said. 'All for Andre': Dover High School mourns death of 16-year-old As Schaeffer entered sophomore year and made friends who accepted him, Ames recalled his depression lessened until quarantine, which made his struggles worse, she said.
While the cheerleading team was his escape from depression, it was also one of the causes of bullying, his mother said. Ames said he struggled with school work and was bullied verbally and physically his freshman year of high school. Ames said the last few years have been hard on Schaeffer, who often held himself up to high expectations.
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