Mental Heath & Suicide Prevention
If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally, please reach out and get support:
If you feel your life or that of another is at risk please call 911!
Recognize the Warning Signs for Suicide to Save Lives
- Dover Mental Health Awareness- The Dover Mental Health Alliance (DMHA) was born from community members with a shared interest, from across all sectors, to tackle the stigma of mental illness and shine a light on the importance of recognizing that our mental health is just as important as our physical health.
- The Cook Center for Human Connection - made resources available at ParentGuidance.org to help increase hope in a time of continuing uncertainty and growing mental health concern.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline– call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
- Veterans Crisis Line– veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available.
- Crisis Text Line– free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.
- Trans Lifeline– call 1-877-565-8860 for a hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs community members might have.
- Disaster Distress Helpline– call 1-800-985-5990 for a 24/7 national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster.
- The Trevor Project– a national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call 1-866-488-7386 to connect with a trained counselor.
- The LGBT National Help Center– call 1-888-843-4564. Open to callers of all ages. Provides peer-counseling, information, and local resources.
Unfortunately, many adolescents have contemplated the idea of suicide, or have had to deal with the tragedy of the loss of a friend or acquaintance to the act of suicide. The whole experience can be hard to understand.
We have devoted a section of our website to providing parents and families with resources pertaining to suicide prevention. By using the links provided, you will learn more about early warning signs, as well as different resources you can utilize if you or someone you know needs support.
Please take a moment to look through some the resources provided.
For Information relating to Adolescent Mental Health and Suicide Click Here
Local Crisis Lines
National Crisis Lines
Critical Response Team
District Suicide Prevention Coordinator/Critical Incident Response Team Lead
Christine Boston
Critical Incident Response Team
Christine Boston
Abby Small
Erica Helm
Travis Bickford
Donna Berchulski
Carolyn Schwartz
Beth Lent
Elizabeth Norris
Chelsey Dinwoodie
Dover High School Suicide Prevention Coordinators
Peter Driscoll-Principal
Carolyn Schwartz- Director of School Counseling
Maureen Lagrua- School Counselor
Kyle Cote- School Counselor
Justin Pagnotta- School Counselor
Lisa Burrows- School Counselor
Amy Chase- School Counselor
Dover Middle School Suicide Prevention Coordinators
Kimberly Lyndes- Principal
Kaitlyn Fogg- Gr 5 School Counselor
Joan Breault- Gr 6 School Counselor
Mary Calhoun- Gr 7 School Counselor
Beth Lent- Gr 8 School Counselor
Garrison Elementary School Suicide Prevention Coordinators
Beth Dunton- Principal
Ashley O’Keefe- School Counselor
Horne Street School Suicide Prevention Coordinators
Brittany Granfield- Principal
Chelsey Dinwoodie- School Counselor
Ruth Rossi- School Counselor
Woodman Park School Suicide Prevention Coordinators
Patrick Boodey- Principal
Elizabeth Norris- School Counselor
Alexis Corbin- School Counselor
Information and Updates
The Dover School district annually trains all staff in suicide prevention using the NAMI Connect Training. More information regarding NAMI and NAMI Connect can be found here.
Parent and community member training in the NAMI Connect model are held monthly at Dover High School. The next session is on Thursday December 2nd from 5-7pm. This training is possible due to a partnership with the Dover Mental Health Alliance and NAMI-NH. This training is limited to 30 participants per session and you can register here
Students in Middle and High School are trained using the SOS- Signs of Suicide training. This training is possible due to support from Connor’s Climb, an Exeter foundation that provides suicide prevention education to NH youth and the community. More information on Connor’s Climb and SOS training can be found here.
Students at Dover High School have the option of also participating in the NAMI Connect Youth Leader Training. There are currently 34 students at Dover High School trained to provide this program to their peers.