VIDEO: Counseling Students Facing Grief

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) –  The death of the Oak Hill Academy student, Thomas Bales, adds to a list of several area high school students who have lost their lives this month.

These are delicate situations, and it begs the question ‘How do you counsel a teenager who has lost a friend at a young age?’

Losing a friend is typically not something that crosses a high school student’s mind.

It’s not easy to talk about, but counselors stress this is the time to be there and to listen.

“I think in times like this, people ask 2 questions. They ask ‘is God really good?’ and ‘where can i find hope in these things?'” said Pastor for First Presbyterian Church in West Point, Brandon Bates.

Teachers are at Oak Hill Academy, and today counselors and ministers were also available for students struggling with the loss of their friend, Thomas Bales.

“To love these kids and to be available, not just to the students but to the faculty to the teachers to everyone who’s experiencing this loss,” said pastor for First United Methodist Church in West Point, Darian Duckworth.

The reality of someone so young passing away is hard to face, especially if you sat in the same classroom as them.

According to counselors and spiritual leaders there isn’t a set way to approach this situation.

“Everybody’s different; everybody grieves differently. Everybody experiences loss differently. I think the only advice I would give is to be honest about what you’re feeling with somebody whether it’s a friend, a parent, a counselor, a teacher, a coach to deal with the feelings you’re having,” said Bates.

Angie Evans’ son, J.C. was close friends with Bales.

Her son was also close friends with Gavin Toler, who was killed in a car accident a few weeks ago.

“You know, it’s hard other than to just be there for your child. Let them cry on you. You need to tell them don’t hold it in,” said Evans.

“It’s ok to feel that range of emotions when you’re going through grief, and there’s no time limit on grief either,” said Duckworth.

You never want to forget the person you lost, but moving on with life, however long that may take, is important.

“You’ve go to stay in your daily routine. You’ve got to eat; you’ve got to sleep, because you want to remember the good times and the good memories that you’ve had with both of your friends,” said Evans.

Ministers also say it’s important for parents to listen to their kids and any questions they may have.

In these conversations, there will be opportunities to talk about how death is unexpected, sometimes, and also how important it is to move on in time.