A Belmont High School student has died of a drug overdose, according to the school’s principal.
The student died on the weekend, Jim Lamond said in an email sent to parents.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this time,” Lamond said.
“Staff at our school have spoken to students about this loss, and additional support from the school district will be available over the next few days.”
A notice was read to students on Monday, encouraging them to support one another and reach out to counsellors for help.
Lamond warned parents their children could experience a wide range of emotions, from withdrawal to anger.
“Some students may want to stay close to you over this next while as reassurance that you will still be there, others may have a strong need to be with their peers,” Lamond said. “I encourage you to talk openly with your child about this death and his/her reactions and feelings.”
The email included suggestions on how parents can best support their children through the grieving process and a list of support resources.
“We would like to discourage rumouring, especially through social media, out of respect for family and friends,” Lamond said.
Sooke school district superintendent Jim Cambridge said the death is a tragic incident that is affecting both students and staff.
“We’re trying to make sure that we do everything we can to help prevent this from happening to another young person,” he said.
“We’ve put some support in place and [today] I’ll be sending out links and information for parents at all of our middle and secondary schools, in case they want to have a conversation with their child.”
In April, Elliot Eurchuk, a 16-year-old student at Oak Bay High, died of an accidental overdose.
His parents, Rachel Staples and Brock Eurchuk, said the health-care system excluded them from having a say over their son’s painkiller prescriptions, leading him to street drugs.
B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy has promised to look into their concerns.
— With files from Jeff Bell
