In recent years, it has become abundantly clear that the Merrimack Valley School District (MVSD) has failed its students in the face of devastating mental health crisis. Over the last nine years alone, we have tragically lost at least (likely more) 10 students or alumni to suicide—a devastating toll that demands immediate, comprehensive action, not silence. The district's lack of transparent, robust mental health resources and preventative measures sends a dangerous message: that student suffering is an issue to be ignored.
The MVSD's recent decision to ban The Perks of Being a Wallflower from the curriculum is a symptom of this profound failure. By removing literature that facilitates vital discussions about mental health, identity, and trauma, the district is actively avoiding the essential conversations that students need. This action reinforces a culture of avoidance at the expense of student well-being and safety.
We, the concerned community members, parents, and alumni, demand that the New Hampshire Department of Education (NH DOE) intervene immediately. Sign this petition to compel the Merrimack Valley School District to:
1. Mandate: Implement a comprehensive, evidence-based mental health action plan with clear, measurable goals.
2. Resource: Increase funding and staffing for licensed, in-school mental health professionals (counselors, social workers, psychologists) to meet the community's demonstrated need.
3. Prioritize: Ensure that all staff receive mandatory, recurring training in suicide prevention and trauma-informed care.
Sign now to tell MVSD that student lives are the priority, and always should have been.