The holidays can be a time of grief and sadness — a time when memories of our loved ones who have died come flooding back and our losses become magnified. During these milestones in the grief process, young people who have recently lost a loved one need particular support.
It is important to consider that loss can take many forms for students: divorce, separation, incarceration, military deployment, deportation, moving and much more. Though different than a family member’s death, the process of grief is very similar for these other events. Students may struggle to celebrate when their lives have significantly changed, even if it is temporary.
The winter break can also be a time of financial stress for some families who worry about paying the bills and having enough money to buy gifts. For working families, it can be difficult to find childcare and children may end up spending time outside of their homes. It can be a time of family disputes and substance abuse. It can be a time of community violence and theft.
The reality is that some students may not have the warm, inviting experience that so many of us look forward to each year. In fact, many students might return to school after the break having experienced traumas and might struggle to share their stories with their teachers or classmates. Students may struggle to focus academically.
Some ways that school counselors can help to reduce stress and anxiety include:
Identify community resources
Post and send home memos with lists of resources
Giveaway
Ask teachers to refrain from giving assignments about winter break
Facilitate small group counseling
To read more of Kirsten Perry's article, please click here.
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