Day Begins With Moment Of Silence For Grieving Forest Park High Students

WOODBRIDGE, Va. (WUSA) --  Wednesday will be the first day of class since 17-year-old Desiree Patrick and 18-year-old Quirinius Williams took their own lives Monday night.

Forest Park High School Principal Eric Brent says the day will begin with a moment of silence.  He's been working on a letter students will be taking home to their parents Wednesday afternoon. 

With incredible sadness Eric Brent outlines how his staff will deal with grieving students. Up to 11 counselors will be visiting classrooms for students to freely talk about the loss of their senior classmates.

The two students struck a relationship last year despite their parents' wishes. 

Ruben Aguilar is the boy's stepfather.  He says, "We both didn't approve of this relationship."

Dr. Andrea Bonior is a psychologist in Bethesda, Maryland.  Although, she had not counseled the two students, she says teens are especially vulnerable to suicidal thoughts.  

Bonior says, "There is an element of the harder you push to end the relationship, the riskier it is and they may grow more secretive.

Bonior says look for signs of substance abuse, is there a change in sleeping, eating, or in their attitude? Is your child displaying reckless behavior such as when they're driving or signs of cutting?  Are there disciplinary problems such as grades dropping? Are they extremely irritable and displaying hopelessness.  What about their friends?  They can give some insight as to your child's behavior and what types of friends they are spending time with.

Bonior says, "My heart breaks a little bit every time I hear of something like this. It's important not to stigmatize and pass judgement on parents and ask what they could have done differently.  This is a time to be supportive.  Obviously the teens were in a ton of pain."

Bonior says the next step for parents is to find the right time and environment to talk to your children. Make sure you are not rushed.

She says your tone is important, don't make them defensive.
It's important to voice your concerns.  It might be time to seek counseling or test your child for substance abuse.

These are thoughts that didn't cross the boy's stepfather's mind. 
Aguilar says, "Usually you don't bury your children they're suppose to bury you."

The boy's stepfather says there were no obvious signs, he says his son seemed happy.

Psychologists say that can happen but usually there is something to reflect upon.

Dr. Bonior also says in a teen's life many may not understand how important one relationship is. Sometimes it's their whole world.

She says always keep communication open.  She says it's difficult to strike a balance with making boundaries and guidelines, but says always keep communicating.