(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — There are calls for a north suburban school district to do a better job in helping students with mental health issues after the recent suicide of a student.
Eighteen-year old Glenbrook North High School Dylan Buckner took his life last week. His father told the Daily Herald he believes the coronavirus pandemic contributed to making his son's depression worse.
During a District 225 school board meeting this week, several of his friends and fellow students say Glenbrook North dropped the ball when it came to helping.
Dylan had a 4.7 GPA and scored highly on the ACT and SAT. He was also captain of the football team, and during sophomore and junior year was its starting quarterback.
"As any close friend of Dylan can attest, it was so hard for Dylan to reach out. It was so incredibly hard for him to talk about the issues that he was going through,” one classmate said.
"It took him attempting to take his own life just a few months ago for anybody to even look up and ask what he was going through."
A woman who identified herself as an alumnus of Glenbrook North High School said in the past eight years there have been seven suicides in the district.
"These numbers are unacceptable. It is overdue for District 225 to address student mental health and the pressure that students in this community face,” she said.
Friends of Dylan Buckner are also upset school officials turned them away from the football field late last week when they tried to stage a moment of silence for Dylan on the field.
Braden Roy said that was “a slap in the face to all those that were affected by the tragedy."
Some students also called for putting off this week’s final exams in the district because students are grieving.
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