Student Suicide Crisis: District Implements Support Program

Published 4/15/2025, 1:14 AM

Sourced & Composed By: Will Woods

FLORENCE, KENTUCKY: In the Month of March, the newly formed Boone County Suicide Response Team held three meetings, the final two being full-day training sessions – covering a multitude of issues relating to the high rate of Student Suicides over the past six months. 

Since November, four students from the Boone County School District have taken their own lives. According to Boone County's Fiscal Court Communications Director, “over forty individuals” took part in training sessions provided by the Boone County Suicide Response Team March 19th and 20th.  Spokesperson Elaine Zeinner said the next meeting will be at the end of April, expressing certainty that “this work is far from over, and has no end date.”

The Response Team dedicated time to “creating standard protocols for memorials for those who have died by suicide”, exploring processes and policies for first responders responding to a suicide, and worked to develop standardized training and language when communicating about a death by suicide in the community.

A Steering Committee was formed and met on April Seventh. The Committee began work on identifying the priorities of the team, which include standardized resources for the families of those recently lost, and further discussion of “possible processes and policies for first responders.” The development of a communications subcommittee was also announced.  The priority - to “educate [the] community on mental wellness and protective factors.”

Though Boone County Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hauswald was not in attendance  at the initial meeting, a concern to parents who attended, District Spokesperson Barbara Brady confirmed to us two Deputy Superintendents and the Executive Director of Student Services were in attendance.  Dr. Hauswald was fully informed of the event and continues to lead the district toward increased Mental Health Awareness and Access.   

Hauswald, on the job since July, recently championed the approval of a new Suicide Prevention Program for the District’s Middle and High Schools. Hope Squad, will provide peer-to-peer suicide prevention and support for students beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, throughout the 2028-2029 school year - with the initial $100,000.00 sponsorship coming from Ethan’s Purpose Foundation. District Staff say it was Dr. Hauswald’s personal intervention that finally led to the approval of the program’s installment within the district, and those closest to the Superintendent contend he is championing mental health awareness as he speaks with school administrators and staff – daily.

Board member Carolyn Wolfe, speaking individually and separate from her fellow members, said for the past year she has served on the School District’s Mental Health Task Force. “While the newly formed county-wide mental health task force is just beginning its work, the school district has quietly had its own internal task force in place for years. Their efforts haven’t always made headlines, but they have made a difference. I’ve had the privilege of serving on that district task force over the past year, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the thoughtful, coordinated efforts between our schools and community partners,” said Wolfe.

We attempted to gain additional information on student suicide at the State-level, only to be sent back to the County Spokesperson.  According to the United Health Foundation, Kentucky ranks 27th in Adolescent Suicide, with 12.2 Suicides per 100,000 children between the ages of 15 and 19 {Data gathered 2020-2022}.  1 in 7 Kentucky High School students and 1 in 5 Kentucky Middle School students have seriously considered Suicide.  

It has also been impossible to identify members of the County Response Team. No official documentation has been provided, though several local leaders have questioned why they’ve not been included on such pressing discussions - leaving many leaders and parents within the district frustrated at the perceived secrecy around the cluster of events, and the response.  Parents of students that have been lost to suicide in the district have been shut out of the meetings moving forward, as the team has provided a "Parent Advocate" to keep them updated.  The team (according to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity) believes the feelings and emotions of the parents is currently too raw and that their attendance could cause more harm than good. 

When it comes to delays in educating students on the topic of suicide, Wolfe shares her concern that students suffer when politicians get in the way: “When barriers are put up—whether due to politics, policy, or misinformation—they hinder the work of professionals who are doing everything they can to help students in crisis. It makes it harder to identify at-risk youth, to intervene early, and to build trust between schools and families. We all want what’s best for kids. But if we’re serious about that, then we must be willing to work together—not just when it’s convenient or when tragedy strikes, but every single day.”

As for our own research and investigation, we will continue to push for transparency, and continue asking the tough questions: "When will the Students be invited to speak?  When will elected officials finally learn to listen to those impacted the most?  When will the 'community' be permitted to participate in the 'Community Response'?" 

We will update this story as information becomes available...