Do not allow another Benjamin to happen – Part 2

I wrote earlier about this. And I am worried that another case is waiting to happen. Remember the students of Tanjong Katong Primary School after the Kota Kinabalu disaster? What did the school did to the students that knew those who perished? Yes,, they counseled them, to make sure mentally and emotionally they were able to cope with the shocking event and the after shock. Children are just children and it is very difficult to know how they would react to stress, trauma and death of people they know. No one could envisaged Benjamin would take it so badly. It came like a thunderbolt.

And Shanmugam made a Freudian slip in Parliament by saying that the little girl could commit suicide. The parents and teachers must talk to her, counsel her and keep a close watch over her. Make sure she is emotionally supported and prepared to take this blow of Benjamin’s death. Be very careful and concern about this little girl.

And there are also the teachers and police officers to think about. Some may feel very guilty for what they did or did not do and guilt stricken for Benjamin’s death. Some may be so insensitive that it would just be water under the bridge and would not be affected in any way. But some adults, yes, some adults are very sensitive and vulnerable in a tragedy like this. They must also be counseled, the principal, the counselor, teachers, police officers, they are also human beans and would react like human beans.

Let’s hope the after shock would not hit anyone so badly to take his own life or go insane. The pilots that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were also mentally affected. This poor Benjamin’s case would prick at the conscience of many who have a conscience in them and they would feel really bad about it.