It can be heightened concern about safety, adults might have trouble sleeping, children could also be deeply affected suffering the same emotions as older people.

Whatever the reaction, violent crime will be a shock and can have a considerable and lingering impact on people in the community.

"With any small community such as Bermuda a violent crime will always be a shock.

"We are not accustomed to those types of crimes being commonplace and having that experience will affect the Island in some way," said psychologist Dr. Cherita Rayner

Stressing that it was impossible to predict exactly how any one person will react to such news, Dr. Rayner said shock, sadness and being upset are all normal the extent to which a person experiences shock is largely dependent on how that person perceives the event affecting them personally.

Lack of feeling in response to news of murder or other violent crime is commonplace in large cities, but Dr. Rayner believes that is unlikely to happen in Bermuda.

"I would like to say that we would not become very desensitised to it," she said. "We are small. I think we would still be affected by these traumatic incidents and that it wouldn't become commonplace or the norm."

Dr. Rayner said heightened concerns about safety are typical reactions in the wake of a violent crime. But she said how a person reacts centres around whether they feel personally threatened or in danger.

She added: "It should be stressed that there is a natural and normal emotional process associated with experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. Initially, there are a number of difficulties that both children and adults will experience.

"Adults may have trouble sleeping, and may experience vivid dreams related to the incident. They may also be easily angered or irritable, and may find that they are more tearful than usual. Adults may also be easily startled, or may seem distracted. People may also experience a sense of emotional numbing, or a feeling of detachment."

Violent news can be particularly upsetting for children and parents should be mindful of this as children and teenagers often experience the same feeling of sadness and upset as adults, but are often more scared.

Dr. Rayner said children and teenagers may have difficulty sleeping. They may also experience nightmares or frightening dreams as a result of learning about a violent crime especially one that has taken place in their own community.

"Young children may revert to previous behaviours such as wanting to sleep in their parents' bed. Children and teenagers may have some difficulty in school," she said.

"They may become distracted in class, or may not want to go to school at all. Alternatively, they may become over-involved in activities as a way to avoid thinking about the event."

She said children and teenagers may also become irritable, or easily angered or saddened. She said it is important to allow children to talk about or discuss how they are feeling, as a means of supporting them.

According to Dr. Rayner, it can be a great relief for the child to know that the parent may also feel saddened by the event.

"In some cases, it may be appropriate to limit exposure to newspaper and television reports about the event, if this seems to further upset the individual.

"This is particularly true for children who may become frightened or tearful when the event is displayed in the news," she said.

"Parents can talk to their children about their feelings, allowing the child to cry or be angry if that is how they are genuinely feeling, It can be helpful for parents to redirect the child to a more appropriate activity."

There are several organisations, both public and private that can offer assistance with these issues. Dr. Rayner suggested contacting any of the following for help: Chrysalis Bermuda on 232-7753, Transitions on 292-2667, Dr. Amanda Marshall on 293-7793, Child and Adolescent Services on 236-6344, Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute's Adult Outpatient Clinic on 236-3770, The Family Centre on 232-1116 or the Women's Resource Centre on 295-3882.