Adam LeBlanc's Father Keeps A Graveside Candle Lit For His Son

MADISON, CT — Often, anniversaries are celebratory events. But not always. For the LeBlanc family, Oct. 9 is a painful day, but one of remembrance; a day to commemorate and honor the memory, and life, of their son Adam LeBlanc, who at 17 took his own life on that early autumn day in 2020.

The Daniel Hand High School student was suffering and sad, but no one knew, his father told Patch a year ago. Read Adam’s story here.

Now, the LeBlanc family, dad Gerald and mother Stacie and his four siblings, are having a bench made in honor of their son. Planning to have the bench engraved, they are looking to friends and the community to help them capture their son in words, quotes or scripture. Twelve months goes by quickly and the family is still grieving and may for many months and years to come.

In a Facebook post, Stacie LeBlanc asked for suggestions and, thanked the community for all its “love and support.”

Gerald LeBlanc shared his thoughts on his loss and how to help other families with children in pain recognize what he and his family did not: that their child was “sad.”

After his son's suicide, Gerald LeBlanc spoke with Patch on a number of occasions, sharing his thoughts, and pain, on a tragedy that he said was deeply personal and painful to discuss. But, he did want to talk, though admitted that while he wished he had words of advice for others with a child who is suffering with depression or other mental health issues that could lead to suicidal ideation — or worse, suicide — he did not have the answers.

After his son killed himself, counselors were made available for Hand high school students and their families to process the death, and LeBlanc hoped that made a difference: "A lot of parents probably talked to their kids. I have to hope that may have helped." And he said he learned that counseling is vital.

“Make sure your kids get counseling, even if you think your kids don't need it," he said. "It's still a good thing."

Help, then hope

"It's hard because, especially in our situation, we didn't know," LeBlanc said, noting that there were no signs the family saw that set off alarm bells, but his son, it turned out, was "sad."

"There was no indication. Everybody always says, 'talk to your kids.' But who would have thought it? He was never ... he was just a good kid. I don't know."

In Madison, the town's Youth & Family Services agency has begun a program called Mental Health Matters, and it has clinical staff available to help families and a dedicated counselor who works directly with families.

In Connecticut, Connecticut Children's health system is regarded as an excellent resource with myriad information, tips, suggestions and action plans to get help before it's too late for help.

Learn more here.

And nationally, Hope For The Day is a good place to start, especially to learn more about how to help young people: "It's OK not to be OK."

LeBlanc said last December that while he's "Not much into public speaking, if I can be a help, if someone needs me to, I'll do it."

Don't wait. If you or someone you love is at risk of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or at suicidepreventionlifeline.org or text via the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.