Children get help to cope with second tragic loss
Government psychologists are reaching out to the daughter and son of a woman crushed to death in a freak accident yesterday, bearing in mind they went through the trauma of losing their father in an accident less than three years ago.
Staff of the Social Welfare Department have contacted the family of Chan Kwai-mui, 51, who was crushed to death by an elderly neighbour who fell 27 floors and landed on top of her.
'We will provide counselling services and appropriate assistance to her family members,' a spokesman said. 'If necessary, clinical psychologists will offer counselling to them.'
He said the department was still trying to contact family of the other dead woman, identified as Lam, to see what assistance they needed.
Chan's children, both in their 20s, had suffered twice in three years, said Chan Kam-hong, head of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, who has been in contact with the family since their father was killed.
'The two children are very saddened. They have suffered two misfortunes in three years.' He described the son as a 'good boy', adding: 'He works in the day and goes to school to further his studies at night.'
He was living at home with his mother at their flat on the Yiu On Estate, Ma On Shan, below which the accident happened. The daughter had married and moved out.
Their father, Tam Shing, 51, was killed on July 10, 2007, when a tower crane collapsed at the demolition site of the former Mitsukoshi department store in Causeway Bay. One other worker died and five were injured in the rare industrial accident.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said he was particularly concerned as he had met the Chan family at the accident scene in 2007.
Helios Lau Kar-cho, chief clinical psychologist of the department, said his staff were reaching out to the family but it would be hard at the moment to predict the impact of the tragedy on family members.
He hoped they could use their experience to guide themselves through the grief and stress. Finding ways to channel their feelings and showing care to each other would help, he said.
Dr Lee Sing, director of the Hong Kong Mood Disorders Centre, said the department would keep monitoring the case to see if they developed post-traumatic disorder, which might not be evident for months.
'They might be greatly grieved to have lost their parents in a few years' time in such accidents. They might feel the world is insecure and unfair.
'But it will depend on their ability to cope with stress. If a person is psychologically robust, he can get over the grief in three to six months. If he is vulnerable, the grief may last longer.'
Lee cited the case of one of his patients, who dared not open the windows of his flat after he found out that four people had committed suicide by jumping from the housing estate.
Tina Tam, a 62-year-old who lives on the Yiu On Estate, said the balcony of her flat was not safe for hanging clothes as she had to lean too far out of the window.
