Workshop 5

Background: In December 2017, 9-year old Jackand his mother (Harriet) were visiting their extended family inMelbourne. They were shopping in the city on 21 December when adriver drove his car into pedestrians at the corner of Flinders andElizabeth streets. Jack and his mum witnessed this event (in which18 people were injured, with an elderly man subsequently dying fromhis injuries). They were not in harm’s way (with the car travellingaway from them and the driver quickly apprehended. However, Jackand his mum had multiple conversations about how they each thoughtthey could have been killed during the attack. Two days later, Jackand his mum returned to their home in Brisbane.

Jack lives in an intact family consisting of his biologicalparents, Harriet and Peter, and his older sister Natalie. He is inGrade 4 at the local primary school and has lots of friends. He isalso close to his parents and his grandparents (who are involved inhis care during the week).

Immediately following his return home, Jack experiencednightmares on a few occasions about cars driving towards him. Afterthe first nightmare, Jack’s dad (who has a history of anxiety anddepression) encouraged Jack to sleep in the parents’ bedroom on acamp mattress. Despite mum’s suggestion that it is time for Jack tomove back to his own bedroom, he is still sleeping in his parents’room. Jack’s mum and dad have had many arguments about thissituation. Peter’s (dad) perspective is that:

·       Jack is a verysensitive child who (even as a newborn baby) is more easily upsetthan other children;

·       Jack has been exposedto a traumatic experience in which he could have been killed;

·       Loving support(including avoidance of going into Brisbane city) is required toprevent Jack from developing ongoing mental health problemsfollowing this exposure; and

·       He (dad) could notcope if he lost one of his children.

From Harriet’s (mum) perspective:

·       The experience wasupsetting but she and Jack were not hurt and were never likely tohave been hurt (as she has discussed with Jack);

·       Peter (dad) needs totalk about the attack less; and

·       Jack is a healthy boywho seems to be handling the experience well.

Question: How likely do you think it is thatJack might develop a diagnosable mental health problem followinghis exposure to the attack in Melbourne? [Note, you are not beingasked to identify possible mental health problems]. Identify 8factors (a mixture of risk and protective factors – does not needto be 4 of each; but rather 8 in total) to justify your answer, andexplain why each is either  a risk or a protectivefactor.