Barrington community stunned by another teen suicide

The Barrington High School community has been stunned by yet another student's self-inflicted death, early Wednesday morning along the Union Pacific railroad through Barrington.

Lake County Coroner Richard Keller confirmed the death of the 17-year-old Barrington High School senior was suicide. The young man was struck by an eastbound Metra train just before 6 a.m. at Hart Road and Route 59.

Just over a year ago, the Barrington community created an outreach and counseling organization called "HERE in Barrington" to address the tragedy of four students who had taken their own lives in the previous two years.

The group's name stands for Help, Encouragement, Resources, Education.

The organization was very active during the 2009-10 school year; the highlight was a prominent event called Stomp the Stigma which sought to erase any sense of shame among students in need of help, counseling or guidance with personal problems.

There were no self-inflicted student deaths last school year, and HERE in Barrington had its next event already planned - HERE Fest 2010, from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the high school.

District 220 spokesman Jeff Arnett said the event was intended to be a celebratory one before the first football game of the year, to mark a full year free of student suicide.

Deanna Griffin, a parent who co-chairs HERE in Barrington, added the event was meant to say, last year we stomped the stigma, this year we're all here together.

Despite Wednesday's tragedy, Griffin said fostering an open attitude about the issue has had positive results. In the last year, more students took advantage of available counseling in the community.

"What I do want the students to take away is that their efforts are not in vain," Griffin said.

When the first deaths happened, students didn't know how to react, she said. Now, they know the first thing they have to do is call each other.

"They are learning, in a tough way, that looking after one another is important," Griffin said.

On Wednesday, staff workers from the high school's Guidance Resource Center immediately made themselves available to help grieving classmates and others in the community.

Barrington Unit District 220 Superintendent Tom Leonard issued a statement in response to the tragedy.

"Words cannot convey the heartache we feel from this loss," Leonard wrote. "The life of each student is precious. The death of a student with classes to begin next week is indeed an unfortunate way to return from this summer break. Our high school staff is devoted to the emotional needs of every young person as we prepare for the new school year."

Leonard went on to urge those in need of help to avail themselves of it, and for Barrington area families to express support for the grieving family and each other.

Even though Wednesday's tragedy is discouraging to those involved with HERE in Barrington, they show no signs of being deterred in their mission, Arnett said.

Griffin said HERE was always meant to be open-ended and self-sustaining, and that the main purpose of the group is to promote positive mental health.

Despite the coroner's ruling, Barrington police said Wednesday's tragedy remains under investigation with the help of the Major Crash Assistance Team.

Barrington Youth and Family Services are available to the community for counseling services and may be reached at (847) 381-0345.