A Fort Worth father is calling for more mental health resources for teens after his son died by suicide last week.
Anthony Cooper, 16, became the second Timbercreek High School student to take his own life in three days. On April 21, another 18-year-old student died from a fatal gunshot wound.
“He’s my best friend in the world,” Scotty Cooper said. “I will miss him so much that I will die.”
Cooper tears up, but lights up when he talks about his son, Anthony. The 16-year-old played football at Timbercreek High School in Keller ISD.
The boy’s father told NBC 5 that Anthony loved spending time with his family and was planning his next vacation a week in advance.
“We were just sitting here Monday night talking about what our plans are,” Cooper said. “He told me about what he was wearing and what he wanted to do.”
The next day, Anthony’s father said he received a call from Anthony’s grandmother telling him that the boy had suddenly gotten into her car.
Cooper then received a message from his son.
“He texted me around 4:30 and told me he loved me, everything was going to be okay, and not to worry,” Cooper said. And then he was gone. ”
Anthony Cooper shot himself Tuesday night.
The man told NBC 5 that his son had been open about suffering from depression in the past, but he didn’t seem to be struggling in the weeks before his death.
Cooper was the second Timbercreek student to die by suicide in late April. Two Sundays ago, an 18-year-old student died from a fatal gunshot wound.
In response to these deaths, the Keller ISD School Board held a moment of silence for students at the beginning of Thursday’s meeting. Some parents in attendance called for schools to do more about students’ mental health.
“Please ask for help and listen to your children. They need help,” one parent told the school board. “We are in the middle of a crisis right now.”
Scotty Cooper told NBC 5 that his son had been bullied at Timbercreek a year before his death, and that the family tried to get help but didn’t feel the issue was being properly addressed. Ta.
“More work needs to be done,” Scotty Cooper said. “Because it’s getting out of control and out of control.”
NBC 5 reached out to Keller ISD seeking response to concerns regarding mental health resources for Timber Creek students.
“We have been in contact with the families of two Timbercreek High School students who died last week,” a Keller ISD spokesperson said in a statement. “In that communication, we shared that the district has placed additional counseling personnel on campus to expand support for students and staff.”
“Our counseling department is well positioned to provide students and families with resources for counseling and mental health support, and regularly works with families and staff to identify and allocate additional support needed. ” the statement continued.
As one parent grieves his son’s death, he told NBC 5 he hopes his son’s story will help other teens before they make irreversible decisions.
“What’s going on in schools that is making kids think there’s no other way out?” Scotty Cooper said.
Cooper’s family said they plan to hold Anthony’s funeral this coming Saturday in Fort Worth.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or chat with us on Live Chat. 988lifeline.org — Callers are connected to a trained counselor who is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also visit S.peakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
