Maine boy, 16, dies by suicide after struggling with COVID-19 isolation

A Maine teenager, 16, has died by suicide after struggling with COVID-19 isolation when his school went to virtual learning.

Spencer Smith, a sophomore at Brunswick High School who worked two jobs and loved football, died Friday, leaving behind a note revealing that he felt like he was ‘locked in this house’, reported NBC News. 

Spencer’s devastated father Jay Smith has spoken out to warn other parents that ‘social distance ain’t working for the kids’ as he said his family didn’t realise the ‘pain’ his son was in.

Students all across America have been forced to adjust to a new normal as many schools have switched to at least partial virtual learning, with coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations continuing to soar. 

But it’s a level of isolation many are struggling with and Smith said he believes children should be back to school.  

Before he died, Spencer’s dad said he had been feeling isolated from his friends, had stopped playing football and was taking more naps.

Most of his classes at Brunswick High School had moved online with one day of in-person learning. 

Spencer still felt isolated from his friends going in one day a week so then asked his parents if he could stay home then as well, Smith said. 

‘The social distance ain’t working for the kids. I mean, the kids are having it hard,’ Smith told WMTW. 

At home, Spencer struggled with spending so much time alone and his grades also slipped.  

Smith said his son then struggled even more when his dreams of being a lineman for the school football team were dashed.

Spencer had been training all summer but the sport was replaced by flag football, meaning he thought he wouldn’t get to play. 

‘As soon as he found out it wasn’t going to be a regular football season, looking back, we noticed he stopped working out,’ Smith told WMTW.

‘He stopped riding his bike as much to the point he didn’t even work out anymore. Instead of working out, he took naps.

‘Thinking back, the last few months, we realized we missed catching the signs that things were getting worse for him.’ 

Spencer’s mom Angela Smith also wrote about her son’s struggles during the pandemic in a Facebook post the day after he died. 

‘This remote learning is c**p. I just lost a son because he couldn’t be with his friends. He was trapped in the house,’ she wrote.

‘He felt like he lost his friends and had a hard time with his school work. He felt he had no future. He hated what society was becoming. So he took the easy way out. 

‘Parents please take everything your kids are saying seriously. Give them a huge hug and don’t let go. You never know if it will be the last time. This house is so quiet now. I would give anything to have the noise back.’

Spencer left a note for his parents the day he died, telling them that he felt locked in the house and felt he was growing apart from his friends, NBC reported.  

Spencer’s dad told WMTW he wanted to share his son’s story as a warning that teens and young people are struggling due to the pandemic and should be able to get back to in-person learning.  

‘He was a fun-loving kid, but we didn’t see the pain that apparently he was in,’ Smith said. 

‘I’m not doing this about Spencer. I’m not trying to talk to you about Spencer. I’m talking about all teenagers and the way they feel.’ 

He paid tribute to his son saying he ‘wasn’t average’ and was ‘fun-loving’.      

‘He wasn’t average. He was our son. But that’s not the life he wanted. He wanted more out of life. He wanted everything out of life,’ Smith said. 

‘He was a fun-loving kid, but we didn’t see the pain that apparently he was in.’ 

Phillip Potenziano, the superintendent of The Brunswick School Department, said in a statement that counseling and bereavement support services is available for students and staff. 

‘It’s really important if you or your child is not feeling well in any way to reach out for help,’ he said. 

‘Suicide should not be an option.’ 

He recognized how the fallout from the pandemic is causing people to feel isolated and stressed. 

‘As Superintendent, I know that the pandemic has been a stressor for everyone, students, staff, and parents. 

‘Students’ academic life and new family life patterns, work-life, and social life have been completely disrupted. Our entire state and nation are reeling from feelings of isolation.’

A vigil was held for Spencer in downtown Brunswick Tuesday night.  

Spencer’s family have set up a GoFundMe to help pay for his funeral. Smith said any extra money would be donated to Spencer’s football team, the Brunswick Dragons. 

It had raised more than $12,000 as of Tuesday. 

Mental health issues, particularly among young adults, have increased during the pandemic, according to research from the CDC.  

During late June, 40 percent of American adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues.   

Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers were worst affected by COVID-19 associated mental health challenges, it found. 

Call the toll-free 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255); TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)