Hampton parents growing desperate as yearbook deadline looms
CBC
WARNING: This story contains details about suicide.
When Lexi Daken's former classmates were preparing to graduate last year from Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton, there was absolutely no question that she would be remembered in the school yearbook, said her father Chris Daken.
Daken said there was no discussion or hesitation. It just simply wasn't an issue.
That's why he can't believe what Amy and Greg Hoyt are going through.
Their 15-year-old son died by suicide in Grade 9, four months after Lexi. This would have been his graduating year.
The Hoyts always assumed Carson would be remembered in what would have been his graduation yearbook, but the Anglophone South School District has said no. They said including him may lead to suicide contagion — or others dying by suicide as a result.
Daken said that was never mentioned in Lexi's case and he's grateful that he didn't have to fight the way the Hoyts are having to.
"To me, this shouldn't even be a discussion," said Daken.
"It's a fight that shouldn't even have to be a fight."
Since Lexi's death, Daken has seen progress, and more openness about mental health issues.
"It's been three years since Lexi and Carson passed away, and when I look at the changes that have been made — and talking about equality and doing more for mental health — to me, not including his picture because he died by suicide is almost taking two steps back."
David McTimoney, the superintendent of Anglophone West, which includes Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton, declined an interview request for this story.
Dr. Mark Sinyor, a psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto whose main research focus is on suicide prevention, said "suicide contagion and clustering is a very real concern, particularly in the context of suicide in a young person."
That's why he said it's important for schools "to do everything they can to diminish the risk of suicide in young people."
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