Parent urges Haywood County Schools to bolster youth suicide prevention messaging

A Haywood County parent raised concerns about youth suicide and school communication during the public comment period, urging the school board to adopt more visible prevention messaging tailored to children.

Doug Morrow, who identified himself as a parent and a 100% disabled veteran, told the board he had not been adequately notified about his daughter’s academic and behavioral issues and urged the district to do more to reach students. "State of North Carolina in the last few years, student or child, suicide is up 30 percent," Morrow said in his remarks (claim attributed to the speaker in the transcript). He expressed that some materials and the 988 hotline are more suited to adults and that children respond better to familiar adults such as coaches and teachers.

Morrow offered to "pay for the paint" and described a proposal to install painted messaging at school sites to convey a youth-focused prevention message rather than a memorial. He framed his remarks as suggestions for action and asked the board to consider adopting approaches from other districts he referenced.

Chairman Francis thanked the speaker and said the board would take the comments and suggestions into consideration. The transcript contains no staff presentation or formal staff response to the specific statistical claim during the meeting; the board did not adopt an immediate action during this session.

Because the statistic Morrow cited was presented during public comment and not verified during the meeting, the district or reporters should confirm suicide-rate figures with state public-health data and the district before using the statistic as fact.