[: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)] A Maine father whose 16-year-old son committed suicide last week has said that the isolation the teen felt from remote learning contributed to his death.
Jay Smith, of Brunswick, told a local news station that his son, Spencer Smith, left a note about how he struggled to cope over the past several months, feeling like he had been locked in the house and was growing apart from his friends while learning virtually during the coronavirus pandemic. “We need to get our kids back into classes,” Smith told News Center Maine.