East Hampton Teen’s Suicide Leads to State Mental Health Funds

It’s not a lot of money, but it could help save an unhappy student’s life.

The recently unveiled New York State budget, which went into effect today, includes $150,000 for mental health services in South Fork High Schools. And it’s thanks to the grief and outrage of a high school principal over the suicide of one of his students.

State Assemblyman Fred Thiele and State Senator Kenneth LaValle sponsored the mental health provision following the September, 2012 suicide of David Hernandez, an East Hampton High School student.

But according to Assemblyman Thiele, Adam Fine, the East Hampton High School Principal, “was the impetus behind the legislation. The East Hampton school district and Southampton Hospital met and said ‘never again’ would there be a lack of mental health services for the students.”

The request for funding will help create a three-phase approach to helping students navigate the complex dynamics of growing up in a complicated and multi-cultural world. “It’s not unique to East Hampton,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “It’s a tragic story.”

According to an article in The East Hampton Star David Hernandez’ mother Carmita Barros said her son’s death was the result of bullying by his peers. “’David had been bullied by six classmates, all of whom were Latino,’” She told The Star. “’David, was apparently tormented for being gay. Though he had been meeting each week with a social worker and a psychiatrist, the anguish ultimately grew too great.’”

The new mental health funding will allow schools to implement a three-phased strategy when dealing with the mental health needs of students. This year’s provision is the seed money for phase one which is essentially crisis control. Assemblyman Thiele said additional funding would be sought from school districts, towns and the New York State Office of Mental Health to carry out the following phases.

According to an article in 27East school districts will work in collaboration with local agencies that administer mental health services, Stony Brook doctors in psychiatric residency, Southampton Hospital and “other local sites to provide trained mental health care.”