HOUSTON – Over the past few days, tragedies involving children in our area have been making national headlines.
The body of 11-year old Audrii Cunningham was found in the Trinity River Tuesday after she was reported missing last week.
The 7-year-old son of the Lakewood shooter is also fighting for his life after being shot in the head during his mother’s attack on Feb. 11.
KPRC 2 wanted to know how parents, teachers, counselors should handle these delicate and important conversations with their children.
Shubhra Endley is the Director of Mental Health and Wellness for Communities In Schools of Houston. The local non-profit serves 163 campuses in six Houston-area schools districts and Lone Star College.
Endley said when it comes to helping children process grief, the conversation should start at home.
She told KPRC 2 it’s important to look for signs your child may need additional support.
“If they’re very young, they may have difficulty wanting to even go to school, maybe there’s avoidance. The behavior might just be asking lots of questions, fixated on what has happened to their classmate. And so, as adults, a teacher, administrator or the parents, caregiver is just kind of trying to instill that sense of safety,” Endley said.
It’s also important for parents to take charge of what their children are hearing when it comes to tragic deaths like Audrii’s.
“You want to prepare your child because, if you’re going to be sending them to school, at some point, then, they’re going to be talking to their classmates, and you really want them to get the most accurate information, and that’s going to come from an adult,” Endley said.
Endey added that while she can’t speak for every district, her staff is on the campuses they are associated with five days a week.
They also have licensed mental health professionals that offer supportive counseling and crisis intervention.