Counselling important in diffusing trauma at schools
The suicide of an 11-year-old girl last Saturday, 19 August, in her home in Extension 13, sent shock waves through the community.
Jenique Pieterse was a learner at Erika Primary School. According to Jenique’s mother, Marie Rhode, neither she nor the pre-teen’s teachers noticed any alarming change in her behaviour prior to her death.
The principal of Erika Primary School, Moira Fillies, said the Western Cape Department of Education played a vital role in supporting the school following Jenique’s death.
According to Paddy Attwell, director of communication at the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), trauma is a normal response to an abnormal situation but can result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if the person concerned does not receive trauma counselling as soon as possible after a traumatic event.
Atwell says failure to prevent PTSD can lead to depression and lifelong effects.
“For this reason, the department tries to organise counselling immediately when learners experience a traumatic event, for example, a fatal shooting, extreme violence, life-threatening accidents, or disasters.
“The WCED employs social workers and school psychologists in every district who provide this support, and works with other departments and agencies to provide counselling, as required.”
Atwell says the department has also engaged a service provider to provide counselling for teachers and officials, as part of its Employee Wellness Programme. “Our Safe Schools Call Centre plays an important role in arranging counselling, as required,” Atwell concluded.
Contact the Safe Schools Centre for more information (0800 45 46 47).