The tragic crash of a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) fighter aircraft at Milestone School and College in Uttara continues to shake the nation. However, beyond the physical devastation, mental health professionals are urging authorities to prioritise long-term counseling services to prevent a secondary crisis of untreated trauma.
Specifically, experts warned of lasting psychological trauma, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), particularly among children, survivors, and first responders.
Md Mehedi Hasan, a psychologist & trauma specialist at Mind to Heart Psychological Wellness Center, told Dhaka Stream that survivors, especially young students who witnessed or experienced the incident, are at high risk of developing PTSD, a mental disorder that develops after experiencing a traumatic event.
"PTSD symptoms can surface days or even months later, and may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety," he said. "This may not only manifest in children, but also among teachers, parents, emergency responders, journalists, and medical personnel who were directly involved in rescue or recovery operations," he said.
Firefighter Anwarul Alam told Dhaka Stream that the horrific incident does not end when the rescue is over. The smell and the screams keep replaying in the mind, coming back in abrupt flashes.
Nusrat Sharmin, an assistant professor at the psychology Department of the Gopalganj Science and Technology University (GSTU), told Dhaka Stream that early psychological support and counseling are essential to prevent long-term trauma.
"The horrific tragedy can also lead to conditions such as OCD and borderline personality disorder (BPD)," she said.
"In the case of OCD, survivors and witnesses, particularly children, may begin experiencing unwanted thoughts related to the incident. OCD leads them to perform repetitive behaviors as a way to manage overwhelming anxiety," she said.
Sharmin added that for those predisposed to BPD, trauma can intensify emotional instability, fear of abandonment, and lead to increased incidents of self-harm.
If proper counseling and interventions are ignored, PTSD, OCD and BPD can severely disrupt the lives of victims, particularly young survivors, who may struggle to return to normalcy in their personal and academic lives.
Roufun Naher, an assistant professor at the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at the University of Dhaka, told Dhaka Stream that there is no doubt that survivors and rescuers directly exposed to the crash are suffering mentally, with severe impacts on their daily lives.
"The school authorities must take immediate initiatives to provide psychological support. It is urgent that the government ensures proper counseling for the victims," she said.
Nahar added that the psychology department is ready to offer mental health support to those affected by the horrific plane crash.
"We must act fast with compassion and professional care in order to help the survivors and the community begin healing," she said.
Shastho Batayon, a national health information and telemedicine service, operated by the Management Information System (MIS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is offering 24-hour telecommunication services for survivors, reports media.
Additionally, the Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) has taken an initiative to provide mental health support and counseling to journalists.
On July 21, an FT-7BGI aircraft took off from Kurmitola Air Base at 1:06pm before crashing into a two-storey school building at 1:18pm due to an apparent mechanical failure, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), killing 32 and leaving scores more injured.
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