Grief Group Formed At Mack Lyon Middle School

By CORINNE MESSER

The Progress

There’s a new club at W. Mack Lyon Middle School (MLS) called the Beneficial Grief Discovery Club (BGD). This group’s purpose is to help students to cope with loss.

The group meets on Thursdays after school. They have a lesson and do an activity.
“We learn about the stages of mourning,” said an anonymous BGD member, “also, what behaviors can come from them, and that it’s okay to feel that way.”

MLS Social Worker, Erika Whitmore explained that several students at Lyon have had a significant loss in their family including a mom, dad, or sibling.
“When Brooke’s Good Deeds founders, Gary and Shanna McPheters, became aware of this situation, they knew they had the right resources and experience to organize a grief club,” Whitmore said.

The McPheters are trained facilitators who encourage group members to express the many feelings that are part of the grieving process. Club members discuss and share activities with others who share similar life-changing experiences. The goals of the group are to make connections, build resiliency, and healthy coping skills

“I feel like attending has helped me to clearly express myself,” said one BGD member. “I can share my feelings because I know the other club members are going through it too. And the group leaders are really nice!”

Shanna McPheters mentioned that the members of this group are becoming more comfortable each time they meet as they get to know each other better. She said she is noticing the students are bonding as they realize they share common emotions as they have all lost a loved one.

Whitmore has been assisting the McPheters in getting the group up and running at the school. She also attends the meetings.
“I think the club has been really good for its members because it is another resource for the kids to learn how to cope with hard things,” Whitmore said. “It truly is a blessing to have the Mcpheters in our community. They lost their daughter, yet here they are helping others with grief and loss.”

The McPheters experienced tragedy when their 15-year-old daughter, Brooke, was killed by a drunk driver in 2013. Since that time, they have dedicated much of their time to serving others in need.
“After the loss of Brooke, there has been nothing more powerful than helping others,” said Gary McPheters.

The curriculum is based on two different sources. The first comes from world-renowned, Dr. Alan Wolfelt, from whom the McPheters received their grief certification. The second source is from Camp Cope at Adam’s Place, the only grief youth program for children in Las Vegas.

The course has nine sessions, which began in February and continue to May. The club meets once a week and members can ride the school’s late bus home.

Shanna mentioned that they plan on repeating the course in the fall and hope to offer this club to other local schools in the near future.