A group organised by his school counsellor helped 13-year-old Edward* know he was not alone and that he had support when he needed it during a difficult period.

The teenager attends a bereavement group held at his school to help him cope after his grandfather died.

It has made him realise how lucky he is that his school has a counsellor to offer this professional support when students need it.

Couldn't be bothered

聽鈥淎fter my grandfather died, I put on a smiley face for everyone, but inside I was really sad. I was down all the time. I just couldn鈥檛 be bothered to do anything,鈥� said Edward.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 really doing as good as I should be at school. At parents鈥� evening the teacher was like 鈥業 know you can do better, I just don鈥檛 understand why you aren鈥檛.鈥欌��

When his class were told about the bereavement group during a PSE lesson, he knew that it was something that he should go along to.

The group meets every month and normally about 10 to 12 young people go along.

It was not what Edward expected.

鈥淚 thought it was going to be all sad and depressing, with people crying into tissues.

鈥淏ut actually it was all about nice ways to remember the people who had died and not forget about them. It was good. It was very inclusive.

Not alone

鈥淚t was helpful because everybody was going through the same as me. I was not alone.聽 I had everyone else there who understood what I was going through.鈥�

The school counsellor led the group through different activities that focused on how they could remember their loved ones and focus on positive memories.

鈥淎t Christmas we made a bauble with little memories in and filled it with glitter and all this nice sparkly stuff.

鈥淚t was quite nice that I always have that thing to remember him by. I can put that on my tree every year.鈥�

Edward uses some of the techniques discussed in the sessions 鈥� including the focus on positive memories 鈥� when he鈥檚 away from the group, at home, or by himself and feeling down.

Helps me get through things

Six months on and Edward still attends the group every month.

鈥淚t helps me get through things.

鈥淚t鈥檚 made me a lot happier. 聽I鈥檓 doing better in school.

鈥淚 had to put a face on before, but now I鈥檓 just happy and smiley anyway, so it鈥檚 good.鈥�

Getting the chance to attend the group, has proved to Edward that school counsellors are crucial.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not very fair if your school doesn鈥檛 have one.

鈥淲hen you have a school counsellor, it鈥檚 good because there鈥檚 always somebody you can talk to. There鈥檚 always somebody to lean back on.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e not having a good day, if there鈥檚 something going on then you can go and speak to them about it.鈥�

And Edward has an important message for the Government and people who make decisions on schools鈥� funding.

鈥淕et every school a counsellor. We need them. They鈥檙e vital.鈥�

* Names have been changed.

To find a 香港六合彩精准资料 counsellor or psychotherapist visit our Therapist directory.