Anoka-Hennepin School District talks mental health resources after spike in student suicides

More than 300 people crowded into a room at the Anoka-Hennepin School District's Educational Service Center Monday night as district leaders and mental health professionals talked about resources available for students.

The meeting comes after five teen suicides in the Blaine-area this school year. 

Sixteen-year-old Sam Casperson died by suicide in January. His mom, Janet, is speaking out about what happened to help others.

“I don’t want another family to go through what we’ve gone through and what we will forever go through,” she said.

Janet Casperson said when her son died, he had been grieving the loss of a close friend – a fellow Blaine High School student who died by suicide in the fall.

“I was constantly telling him, 'You can talk to me about everything,'” she said.

Parents share somber message as metro community deals with spike in teen suicide

In response to the spike in suicides, leaders with the Anoka-Hennepin School District hosted a mental health forum, originally set to take place in the spring. The district said with the growing community concerns, it moved the event up.

Dr. Nita Kumar has served as the school’s mental health consultant since 2012, a role that is unique to the district.

“I think the community wants to know what they can do to support students who will have mental health issues or are experiencing mental health crises,” Kumar said.

In addition to the presentation on school resources, community partners also set up booths with information and had mental health professionals on hand to speak with parents.

“It’s such a personal, private thing for people, and this is a way for them to get their questions answered,” Kumar said.

Casperson attended the forum and said while she appreciates the district’s efforts, she wants to see more concrete changes.

“We need more help in the schools,” she said. “They are just not equipped to help the students.”

During the presentation, the district did admit it does not have the resources right now to fully staff each school with enough counselors and mental health professionals to help students. Dr. Kumar did tell the crowd that they refer students to a variety of outside, community-based resources when they cannot help someone.

Those resources include:

• Nami Minnesota
• Mental Wellness Campaign for Anoka County Inc.
• Cambia Hills of East Bethel
• The North Metro Roundtable
• People Incorporated
• Allina Health
• Changetochill.org
• Headway Emotional Health
• PrairieCare

If you or someone you know is in need of help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to speak with a certified listener: 1-800-273-8255. Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7 and confidential.