Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
Hickling
PROFESSOR OF psychiatry at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Fred Hickling, is suggesting that parents form closer social community networks in order to prevent their children from being abused.
According to Hickling, Jamaicans are living in a dangerous society and attempts have to be made to protect the young.
"What I would impress upon parents is to try to prevent rape," Hickling told The Gleaner yesterday. "Keep them safe and make sure they are not exposed to these types of people."
He added: "In this day and age, when parents are sending children on the streets by themselves, we have to form closer community organisations and this will solve 80 per cent of the problem".
Hickling was speaking against the recent spate of attacks on the nation's children.
While forensic experts on Monday tried to determine whether a body found in Belvedere, St Andrew, was that of 11-year-old Ananda Dean, who went missing September 17, news broke of another savage attack in which a nine-month-old boy was molested and later died Monday night.
Counselling for victims
It was then reported on Wednesday that a 10-year-old girl was raped in Trench Town after returning from a shop.
Hickling said children who are raped need psychotherapeutic help in order to overcome the trauma.
"This will help them to unburden themselves of the guilt and shame," he said.
Hickling cautioned parents not to blame children for what has happened to them.
"Help them to work through the emotional anxiety, which can lead to social isolation and withdrawal," he said.
petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com
Protecting your children
Counsellor Grace Kelly's tips on how to protect your children and prevent them from being abused.
We need to go back to basics. Tell your children not to trust strangers. As a matter of fact, you cannot trust people you are close to.
Tell your children that they need to be more careful and alert.
Tell them to walk in groups and, if they have to separate, tell them not to go too far.
Teach them some simple self-defence techniques, such as crying for help, when they feel threatened.
Parents have to trust their children. Listen to them and talk to them. Look for withdrawal symptoms because it could mean that there is something wrong with them. 
