Editor’s note: The Baker family made the following statement at a meeting of the WW-P School Board’s recently convened naming rights committee. Kenny Baker committed suicide in May, 2009, shortly before he would have graduated from High School South. In response the family founded AIR — Attitudes in Reverse — with the goal of reducing the stigma of mental illness.
The Baker family preferred to remain silent regarding whether or not to name the baseball field after David Bachner. However, we feel compelled to clarify our position as there appears to be confusion. Our position has never been about glorifying Kenny. It has been about preventing additional deaths of current and future students. I believe the Baker family has made it clear that our mission is saving young lives … nothing more.
As is true of many others who knew David, we liked him and feel deeply about his loss. However, we feel there is risk in naming a facility after a student lost in the district as it could possibly be a trigger for a student attending the school who is at risk of suicide.
Excerpt on page 8 from “After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools,” by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) & Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC):
“Contagion is the process by which one suicide may contribute to another. In fact, in some cases suicide(s) can even follow the death of a student from other causes, such as an accident.”
Excerpt from page 6: “schools should be aware that adolescents are vulnerable to the risk of suicide contagion. It is important not to inadvertently simplify, glamorize, or romanticize the student or his/her death.”
And there are High School North students at risk. According to the student assistance counselor, when Attitudes in Reverse (AIR) made the first presentation at High School North, to 410 juniors, in 2011, 40 students came to counselors looking for help; 18 were referred out to services.
One High School North student quoted, “Thank you for making me aware of the possibility that I could have a mental illness. After the AIR presentation at High School North, I began to look into mental illnesses. This past September, I got help and got a diagnosis of depression and social anxiety disorder. So, thank you again for giving the presentation that ultimately saved my life.”
There are many productive ways to remember a student lost such as scholarship, programs, etc.
We will never ask for any building or facility named after Kenny. We are extremely grateful for the permission to have two trees planted in Kenny’s memory on district property.
As mental health and suicide prevention advocates, our concerns are only for the safety and lives of all current and future students. Thank you for your time and consideration.
The Baker Family
