by Gina Tron, for the Montpelier Bridge

BARRE — The death of a 13-year-old student has prompted an outpouring of grief in Barre, along with broader community conversations about youth mental health, bullying prevention, and support for LGBTQ+ young people.

Barre City Elementary and Middle School notified families of the student’s passing on May 13. Barre City Police confirmed to The Bridge that the death was ruled a suicide.

In the days that followed, signs appeared on lawns throughout downtown Barre, which read “Don’t Give Up” and “You Matter,” as well as information about the Washington County Mental Health Services’ crisis line. In response to the loss, Rev. Rae Fraumann of the Hedding Church in Barre organized a series of public signs intended to offer encouragement to children and adults alike. 

“Everybody needs to know that they matter,” they said. “Everyone is worthy of love.”

Several of the signs include messages such as “It Gets Better,” along with contact information for The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that provides 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people.

Fraumann, who supplied the text for all the signs, contacted Yipes! print shop of Barre, which designed and printed them by the end of the same day. 

A community rally focused on anti-bullying and support for youths is scheduled for June 15 at Currier Park. Organizers — which include local podcast 802 Scoop, Yipes!, and Posh Salon — say the event will include speakers, music, and space for attendees to write messages of support on a shared canvas. In promotional materials, organizers described the event as coming “from a place of heartbreak, but also from a place of hope.”

In the days following the student’s death, social media posts circulated in local community groups referencing bullying. Discussions became heated, and comment sections were disabled by moderators.

A friend of the family told The Bridge the student was not bullied and found it odd that some community discourse has focused on that. While conversations following the death have centered in part on bullying and LGBTQ+ youth mental health, no evidence has been publicly presented linking bullying or any other social factors to the student’s death. An obituary described the student as being loved and cared for by classmates, teachers, and community members throughout their life.

Fraumann said that, regardless of whether the student was bullied, the efforts can support other young people in the community. They said it is important to foster a safe environment for all students, noting that LGBTQ+ youths face higher rates of bullying and suicide risk.

Since mid-May, community members, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, have shared personal reflections about bullying and feeling unwelcome. Barre resident Daniel Barlow, executive director of the People’s Health and Wellness Clinic, said such discussions highlight the importance of supportive environments.

“It matters to have affirming spaces,” he said. “We know that LGBTQ+ youths do better when communities visibly support them and make them feel safe and valued.”

According to The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, 39% of respondents reported seriously considering suicide in the past year. They state LGBTQ+ young people who live in accepting communities report lower rates of suicide attempts than those in less accepting environments. 

Fraumann encourages people to judge less and to be kinder to one another, now and always.

“We have to be a good community for our children,” they said. “We are a small community and we can do this.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available by calling or texting 988 or contacting local mental health services.