As students and faculty begin the new school year in a town in central Ontario, they will find an increase in mental health support services due to the recent tragic deaths of four students and a teacher.
The spokesperson for the Bluewater District School Board, Jamie Pettit, mentioned that mental health teams and crisis response units are prepared for the reopening of Walkerton District Community School following a devastating accident that resulted in the loss of five lives.
A collision involving an SUV carrying Matt Eckert, 33, and four teenage girls occurred just outside London, Ont., claiming their lives as they returned from a sports event on Friday around 4:30 p.m.
The identities of the students have not been disclosed by the Ontario Provincial Police or the school board, but authorities revealed that two of the girls were 16 years old, and the other two were 17.
Eckert, also an assistant coach with the Owen Sound NorthStars Junior B Lacrosse team, was among the victims of the tragic accident.
A vigil took place on Sunday evening at the Walkerton school, where hundreds of people gathered to light candles and lay flowers in remembrance.
Pettit mentioned that the staff convened before the students’ return to school and emphasized the need for extensive support to guide students through the initial shock and mourning period.
“The loss of five individuals in a single event has a profound impact and will have long-term effects on the community. It sends shockwaves that will be felt for a considerable time,” Pettit expressed.
