Grief counselors work with students after Montco shootings

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- The manhunt for Bradley Stone has been extremely difficult for people throughout our area - especially those who knew the victims, or the students who went to school with the young victims.

Grief counselors are now on standby to help people cope with the tragedy.

The superintendent of Souderton Area Schools calls what happened Monday "an unspeakable tragedy" and says it will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the district's history.

Grief counselors were inside Souderton Area High School as students mourn the loss of Nina Flick - a 14-year-old freshman who is one of five victims Bradley Stone allegedly shot and killed.

Her 17-year-old brother Anthony Flick is a junior at the school and also takes classes at North Montco Tech Career Center. He suffered a head wound and remains in the hospital.

A message from the superintendent was posted on the school district's website, which reads in part:

"I share the sorrow of all our community members who are grieving and know that we will endure this together."

Andrea Galambos from the Montgomery County Office of Behavioral Health coordinates crisis teams. She says this is one of the largest crises they've responded to.

"The crisis response teams, we have them for both children and adults. They have gone to schools as well as communities, neighborhoods, the complexes where these events have happened," Andrea explained.

She says the grief counselors will be onsite for several days, 24 hours a day to help students, teachers and others cope.

She recommends all parents reassure kids are safe and stick to usual routine.

Andrea says, "Keep them going to school, keep regular hours, make sure they stick to their bedtime, their activities, their social relations - anything that is typical."

For the high school this has been an especially difficult year. They lost two students to suicide earlier in the year, making Nina Flick the third student to die this year.

For more information on grief counseling or dealing with tragedy, visit http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/deathgrief.pdf.