Psychologists warn parents to look out for signs of post-traumatic stress
Child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Kieran Moore, warned teenagers affected by the trauma may suffer from sleep disturbances, depression, or behavioural difficulties in the coming weeks and months.
“After an acute trauma like this, people need to be more sensitive and more aware.
“Teenagers are not necessarily good at verbalising their feelings and emotions. Parents need to be on the lookout for depression and seek professional help, if necessary,” Dr Moore said.
“A long-term effect could be PTSD, particularly if the child has directly witnessed the death of another.”
Child psychologist Dr David Coleman said parents could help in the short term by talking to their children about the tragedy.
“It is important for parents to offer emotional support and healthy distractions to help the child forget what happened, but only in the short term,” Dr Coleman said.
“The child can’t stay wrapped up in the emotions of what happened all of the time and they shouldn’t stop doing their everyday activities. A natural reaction can be to block things out and the parent shouldn’t discourage this in the immediate aftermath.”
However, Dr Coleman said it was important children affected were able to link their feelings with the shocking event.
“That is what will reduce the long-term impact. You want them to integrate their traumatic experience with their feelings.”
Dr Coleman said parents should encourage their children to attend classmates’ funerals to help in the bereavement process.
“From a parents’ point of view its about being there, about being comforting and consistent and about answering questions about death honestly while at the same time demonstrating that life goes on.”
The National Educational Psychological Service is providing support and counselling to the 2,400 students who attend the four affected schools.
