Parents want counselling for Nyakatfo High hostage victims
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PIGG’S PEAK – Victims of a hostage situation at Nyaktfo High School must get counselling. This is the view of the school as well as some concerned parents and residents around the school in Nyakatfo.
Yesterday, this publication reported that Mlungisi Kunene, the Head teacher of Nyakatfo and five others were held hostage by three gunmen who arrived at around 9pm at the school.
This followed reports that the head teacher was against the closure of schools on Monday following online threats and that he vowed to punish teachers and pupils who did show up on the day.
However, Kunene disputed that he ever vowed to punish teachers who did not show up for class on Monday. He instead said someone else posted the information due to a personal vendetta.
As a result of Kunene’s supposed threatening of the teachers, he was allegedly held hostage together with two teachers, an electrician, a pupil and the school guard.
Traumatising
Following their traumatising ordeal, they had not yet received any post-trauma counselling and some parents and even teachers are concerned this could have a severe psychological impact.
Some of the parents from the school called yesterday after reports that a pupil was also among those who were held, hostage. They wondered whether the pupil had received any form of counselling due to the experience he endured.
One of the parents said the situation not only traumatised the six but also the other pupils at the school as they were still under the impression it could happen again, to anyone.
The head teacher could not be reached for comment as his cellphone was still not available. The cellphone was allegedly taken by the armed men who are alleged to have held them hostage.
However, the Deputy Head teacher Sibongile Gama confirmed that the affected people had such as the head teacher, the pupil and the two teachers had not yet received any counselling. She also said they would need to get some counselling.
traumatic
*Jomo, who is a psychiatrist specialising in mental health also concurred that it was important for the victims to get counselling after such a traumatic incident. Jomo’s real name will not be mentioned as he is a civil servant who is not able to speak on record.
Jomo said such a situation should not be taken lightly because the effect on the human being can be devastating. He said this was not similar to a traumatic incident such as a national disaster.
He said in a national disaster such as a storm, one can be traumatised but the trauma from being threatened with a firearm was different. “They have to get some form of counselling,” he said.
He said though for now, it may appear that they were fine, the situation could cause post-traumatic stress disorder also known as PTSD. He said this had characteristics whereby one could have flashbacks of what happened to them.
He said PTSD can start within one month of the traumatic event. “These symptoms cause significant problems in social or work situations and relationships,” he said.
symptoms
He said the symptoms can interfere with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks. He said PTSD symptoms can be grouped into four types, namely intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in things and moods as well as changes in physical or emotional reactions.
However, he also said symptoms could vary over time or from one person to another.
He added that after surviving a traumatic event, many people had PTSD-like symptoms at first, such as being unable to stop thinking about what’s happened. Fear, anxiety, anger, depression, guilt — all are common reactions to trauma.
He said getting timely help and support may prevent normal stress reactions from getting worse and developing into PTSD.
“This may mean turning to family and friends who will listen and offer comfort. It may mean seeking out a mental health professional for a brief course of therapy,” said Jomo.