Shuttle Trauma Psychologists Say Tragedy May Increase Anxiety In Young Shuttle Disaster Air Products Supplied Fuel


Explosion Shocked Children

January 29, 1986|by ANN WLAZELEK, The Morning Call

Yesterday's tragic death of the Challenger crew, particularly of school teacher Christa McAuliffe, was expected to shake the personal security of school-aged children, many of whom watched the explosion of the space shuttle from their classrooms.

Local mental health specialists recommended open discussions about feelings at home and in the school so children understand it's normal to be scared or sad.

"It's a tragedy for everybody but I think especially for kids because their world is filled with mothers and teachers who symbolize safety and assurance," said Allentown psychologist Dr. Robert Gordon.

Gordon said children don't have the skills or maturity to deal with loss and separation.

"They are on a course of separating from the family, taking risks and exploring, but they begin to wonder if they can take risks and explore without separation or loss.

"Normally healthy kids have a lot of defenses and will insulate themselves by saying, 'that only happens to others.' But kids who have had parents or significant figures who died could recapitulate all the losses in their life. They may have a particular need to ask why senseless things happen to innocent people," Gordon said.

"In their primitive way of thinking, only good things should happen to good people. It's very scary to think something terrible can happen to good people. It puts their whole universe at risk."

As a result, Gordon said, children could become more dependent, afraid of leaving their mother, and exhibit more "clinging" or demanding behavior.

Frank M. Dattilio, another Allentown psychologist agreed, adding, "symbolically she (McAuliffe) represented something for everyone - the first step for education to get involved, . . . to make space travel more of a reality, representation for the layman.

"I wouldn't be surprised if anticipatory anxiety goes up, even among adults. And graphically, watching it over TV doesn't help the issue."

Dattilio explained that people delude themselves into believing everything is well controlled and planned. When a tragic accident like the shuttle explosion occurs, "it makes us realize there's not as much control as we'd like to think," he said.

He advised people to talk about their feelings and not hide the fact that risks are taken every day, but people do their best to act safely.

"We know from returning war veterans and people subjected to high stress from bad auto or train accidents that talking about it in groups of people who feel the same way helps ease the pain and makes them feel better."

Gordon also emphasized the importance of listening to children or others who are concerned.

"Don't give them simplistic answers. They don't want to know how rocket ships work, that 'We all have to pay taxes and die,' or lies like, 'It can't happen to good people like us.' They need to hear that sometimes bad things happen to good people and it's appropriate to feel bad.

"Share your feelings with them," he suggested.

He said schools should seize the opportunity to discuss sadness and tragedy.

"Education should include dealing with emotions and reality. There's more to life than the three Rs. I hope schools equip our young people to deal with the real world, which is emotional for all of us.

"Particularly those who saw it in the classrooms. They have an ethical, humanistic responsibility to deal with the emotions that had to generate, not to smooth over it with trite truism. . . . The danger is when children learn from adults to over-repress, over-deny feelings," he said.

Child psychiatrist Dr. George W. Russell of Allentown said all efforts should be made to reach a troubled child. He warned, however, that if anxiety or depression continued for more than a week, the youngster may need clinical testing and professional counseling.

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