KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Shawnee Mission School District sent a letter Wednesday notifying parents after two students passed away this week.
Both of the students attended Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.
41 Action News has confirmed that the students ended their lives by suicide. One student passed away on Monday and the other passed away Wednesday morning.
In the letter sent to parents, Shawnee Mission Northwest Principal Lisa Gruman said additional counselors and social workers were at the school for students and staff members. Gruman also said administrators are working with community resources to provide more support.
"This time of the year is generally a stressful time for students," Gruman said. "The holidays are over, and the real work of the semester is getting underway. The winter is stretching out before them, and none of us are prepared to face the loss of a life so young."
Her full letter to parents can be read below:
In a letter sent to parents on Tuesday, the school included a statement from the parents of the student who passed away on Monday. 41 Action News chose to remove the student's name from the statement out of respect.
"There are no words to express the depths of our loss and we realize that there are many in the SMNW community that were also touched by the light we knew as [redacted]. Thank you for all of your thoughts and expressions of support. We hope that all can celebrate his life, remembering his friendship and laughter. We can only move through this time of grief one step at a time, depending on each other as one big family."
A rally is planned for 8:10 a.m. Thursday outside the school.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call them at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
More resources:
- In case of immediate life-threatening injury call 911.
- Coping with suicide loss from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Access Crisis Intervention Hotlines in Missouri
- Kansas Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- Additional resources from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 Press 1
- Johnson County Mental Health 24 hour Crisis Line: 913-268-0156
- Missouri’s Access Crisis Intervention number: 1-888-279-2132 (toll-free)
- Kansas City VA Medical Center: (816) 861-4700
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Suicide Awareness Survivor Support
