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An excellent authority figure at that. Having someone calm who had the skills to teach them to meditate their way through the worst parts or their ordeal would have been invaluable.

Indeed. Im more worried for the mental health of the coach, because hes older, and because he was responsible for the boys.

Lets not project *madness* on them. They had an authority figure, unlike the miners who would have witnessed their tough guy friends breaking down.

I knew a Cambodian man who was was a prisoner of the Pol Pot regime at the age of 6 and saw all his family perish. He ran away into the jungle and ate leaves to survive but was recaptured every time and tied to a tree. Saw his grandmother eating charcoal to try to survive. I asked if he had ever had counselling and he replied What for, you just have to get on with life. Kids are resilient and only need counselling when someone else convinces them that they have issues.

Totally agree about the coach, I worry about him too. As he would feel guilty for the boys being trapped in the first place and then the sad news of the death of the navy seal. Hope he, along with the other boys get ongoing help to process their experience.congratulations and blessing to all involved in the miraculous recovery of the team.

These boys families are dirt poor. There is no money.

No, hes saying they are kids, and come from a harder life where things are a bit more matter of fact than how westerners live, so, as reported, the sooner they get back to their normal routine the better...best not make the whole drama these children have been through into some neurotic Hollywood over hyped best seller at their expense...

Not forgetting the impact on the families that have to look after the survivors. They (the parents and siblings) need support too. I cant start to imagine the angst they have gone through - with more to come as their children recover.

Thats a good point made. So many people endured terrible circumstances in the war yet they survived and had successful fruitful lives in spite of the atrocities they saw and experienced. Sometimes people just need to be grateful they got through hard times instead of dwelling on the past. Counseling is not always the best way to recover.Zest and an appreciation for life can be all one needs.

Better to have access to counselling should they need to talk than to be like some war veterans (and no disrespect here ) that came back from the war scarred and a shell of former selves, that were left to endure the war alone and often hiding or trying to hide the impact of what they had seen and survived through... also often with undiagnosed PTSD and victims of some or other form of substance abuse in the end - alcohol etc... fact is none of us actually know how anyone in those circumstances feels or how it will later impact on each person...

And then, there is the added guilt of the man who died trying to rescue them.. a variant of survivor guilt and simple guilt

Yeah thats until they discovered that âshell shockâ was PTSD and it caused countless deaths and suffering because people were told to âharden upâ and âget on with itâ.

Really? Its not their fault. Try being a bit compassionate. What a horrible comment.

Yes and no. I think counseling helps for later in life. We never know how we are going to react to a terrible situation. So why not get counseling if it will help now or later in life. I know of plenty of people who had an awful childhood or experience growing up that never had counseling because it was never a thing offered. But if they had it probably wouldve changed their adult life for the better.

So happy these boys and their coach are alright. A little bit of news that was positive for once. Thank you god.

I read a really interesting study recently. The emergency services (fire, ambos etc who are regularly exposed to horror) have found that for some people counselling is counterproductive. Most people really benefit but a small amount find it makes thinks worse so they do not force it upon their crews.

Ignorant much

Of course you are assuming your western thinking is also applicable to a different society and culture...when you say counselling, are you also referring to the young man who led the boys with meditation as a monk and obviously did an amazing job....despair for humanity ? humanity stepped up and saved them all without prejudice....

One of the main four UK divers (based in Thailand) gave an interview to a UK paper on condition that a substantial sum was donated to Lt Col Suman Kunans family. And the boys families have said the lads will all spend time in the priesthood to attone for him losing his life for them, which although it is Thai tradition I find that very moving.

An astonishingly insensitive comment. The coach and boys did not choose to go so deeply into the cave. Unexpected flooding forced them in further to higher ground to avoid drowning. Unfortunately as they were to learn, they soon became completely trapped. To the coachs credit, he helped the boys remain as calm as possible.