Brian's Story: Roseville elementary principal's family opens up about his suicide

A brave Minnesota family is opening up about something very painful and personal because they know talking about their loss could save others.

[@beck1365]

My son went to EDW, Brian Koland was an excellent principal and an exceptional human being. He was much loved and is missed. My deepest condolences to his family.

[@margaretspielman5347]

❤

[@PumpkinNite]

I was also a student there. I miss him every time I hear about EDW.

[@chrisfr977]

I have been in the same situation very depressed and suicidal I grieve with the family it's embarrassing to ask for help but there is nothing wrong for asking for help

[@girlee0303]

Me too but we just have to keep going bc we don’t want to destroy those left behind who love us

[@annabellswint5718]

Thanks for sharing. As a pediatric nurse I see this everyday in our office...young people struggling with mental issues with no counseling available 😢

[@elizabetha2056]

My Granddaughter is an adult with mental illness, hospitalized over and over for suicide attempts. The "system" is non-existent. There is no help. I pray daily. If that wasn't hard enough, I've watched my 41 year old son with mental illness get arrested and serve time over and over for the past 22 years as an adult- never any mental health help.

[@antinatalistwitch111]

The only help u could've given your children is by NOT having them. Look up Antinatalism

[@grammyb5216]

I am so sorry. It seems like we could do something to help before… I’m so very sorry for this family. They are in my prayers. ❤🙏

[@adarali7340]

Mr. Koland was my kids’ principal for 6 years at Emmet D Williams. My oldest son was kindergartner when Brian came to our school and he left when my son was 6 grader. My other 3 younger kids also went there. He was a great principal and was loved by many. Not only that he knew every child’s name but he also knew the parents. The night that we heard the news of his death my kids cried and it was very sad night. The school missed him so much. My heartfelt condolences goes out to his family and I wish them find peace, comfort and courage😢

[@rip_Indra-tr8ih]

He was a great principal. The amount of tears I dropped when I heard the news about what happened where uncountable 😕

[@l.a.raustadt518]

Suicide leaves so many questions unanswered and so many hearts broken. Bless their souls and remember them all.

[@rosalindalay4499]

So sorry for all involved rip

[@IMEMINE.]

The system isn’t broke; it doesn’t exist even if you have money and insurance, he went for a unsupervised walk at a care facility, that’s nonexistent care and he is not here to tell us how someone said it was ok to take a walk… HE NEEDED HELP HE GOT TO TAKE A WALK

[@opieangst]

The system, NATION WIDE, is utterly and absolutely broken. I've spent time in mental health watch/care facilities. I can, without a doubt, say that it made me worse. Now i would be more keen to "bottle it up"

[@danettejachalke5818]

R.I.P.. 🙏💔

[@stellarocquie7957]

It's a personal decision. Respect that.

[@kasun1752]

I agree, Once I saw a teen girl on my friend social media, the young lady had passed away at 16…my Friend told me she died by suicide, to me that was the first time I ever heard of someone that young, my friend added, that this girl wanted to died since she was 5 years old, her mom took her to so many therapies, had her in treatment, and nothing helped until finally she did it after many attempts. Then I learned that it is a decision they just don’t want to live.

[@conditionallyunconditional5691]

Why did they let him take such a walk alone?

[@neco7475]

I know this is not about me but I just wanted to say that

[@tilachapagai3439]

this is my old principal nooooooopooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@neco7475]

I don’t think he knew my name

[@IMEMINE.]

Living in the EDW COMMUNITY. And suffering BiPolar for the past 42 years… You’re on your own; The support network in this area is pretty much nonexistent. This poor guy was bounced around for months: and finally had no other options to get what he needed most, HELP! MPLS/ ST. PAUL is not the place for mental illness care, I’ve been on my own except for the pill pushers. There’s no money in it so taking your life, is better than suffering: I understand that very hard reality. I’m saddened by this story and the family left behind, know that he no longer is suffering from his living Hell and there is not a Damn thing that you could have done, I know you have done all that you could have. Stay close and hug each other often. If he stayed at EDW My don would have met him this year while in kindergarten!!! Peace