Claremont School Offers Free Grief Support Session, Aids Families During Holidays

Claremont Middle School convened a free virtual workshop on December 4 led by Dr. Mekel Harris, a pediatric and family health psychologist, to help families talk with children about death and loss during the holiday season. The session focused on age appropriate ways to name feelings, help kids understand big emotions, and use honest caring conversations to provide comfort. Families were given tools and scripts they can use at home, and materials were available in both English and Spanish. Registration was handled through the provider cartwheelcare Zoom registration page.

The timing matters for Sullivan County families. The holiday period often intensifies grief for households that have lost loved ones, and parents frequently struggle to find simple language and strategies that suit different ages. By offering a free, bilingual session, the school lowered cost and language barriers that can prevent families from accessing professional guidance. The format also allowed caregivers who cannot travel during the school day to participate from home.

This event reflects a broader shift in which local schools increasingly serve as hubs for mental health supports. With pediatric mental health capacity constrained in many rural and small town areas, schools serve as an accessible entry point for early intervention. Providing early guidance to parents can reduce downstream demand for higher cost services, such as emergency care or intensive therapy, by addressing children's needs before problems escalate. For school districts, that creates both an opportunity and a budgetary challenge, as one time workshops are inexpensive but sustained services require funding and staff time.

For community leaders and policymakers in Sullivan County, the session underscores two policy priorities. First, maintaining and expanding bilingual, low cost mental health programming through schools improves equity of access. Second, investing in school based mental health capacity can be cost effective over the long term by reducing pressure on specialized providers and emergency services. As families use the scripts and tools provided, the immediate benefit is clearer communication at home. Over the longer term, building local capacity to support grieving children could lower treatment costs and improve outcomes for youth across the county.