Cumberland County Schools helping students navigate grief after crash that killed 3 seniors  

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Nearly a month after a crash claimed the lives of three E.E. Smith High School football players, district leaders at Cumberland County Schools said they are working to do whatever they can to make sure students and staff have the support they need to process the tragedy.

18-year-old Jai-Hyon Elliot, 17-year-old Nicholas Williams, and 17-year-old Trevor Merritt died after the car they were in crashed on the way to a teammate's surprise birthday party following football practice.

"It's one of those things that people are still very much feeling and talking about - the loss of these three young people," said Dr. Natasha Scott, who serves as the Executive Director of Student Services at Cumberland County Schools, oversees school staff like social workers, psychologists, and counselors.

Scott said the crash deeply affected not only E.E. Smith students and staff, but also people across the district.

"It was a really big reminder of the number of students in our other high schools who genuinely knew these students," she said. "And even if they didn't, they were so very touched by - here it is, senior year - and three young people lose their life all at once."

In the weeks since the crash, the district has sent additional mental health staff to E.E. Smith to provide support. Scott said those conversations about grief - and how to move forward - are still ongoing.

"In the wake of this, how do you manage the grief? Because that is still there," she said. "People are still sad. They are still thinking about the students at E.E. Smith and the staff and family. That part is still there, and now it's the balancing act of 'how do we put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward?'"

Cumberland County Schools offers therapy to students with parental permission through Hazel Health, and staff members regularly receive training on how to handle different mental health situations. In fact, Dr. Scott highlighted that mental health staff across the district was participating in a workshop about how to handle trauma of all kinds, coincidentally on the day of our interview.

Dr. Scott said there are roughly 300 counselors, psychologists, and social workers across the 86 schools in the district, though she said they're always looking for more staff to work in these departments and they're working to increase the number of mental health support staff per student.

As our interview wrapped up, Dr. Scott left us with this message.

"Love on your people, take care of your people," she said. "Because, you know, time is short. Love on your people."'

For a closer look at mental health resources in Cumberland County Schools, click here.

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