Online feedback

Below are comments from readers on www.jamaica-gleaner.com to the story carried yesterday: 'Family left in pain after teen kills brother'.

Families need nurture

I feel for this family! A painful story ... some deep wounds must have been inflicted on the alleged perpetrator ... something has created great pain and was seeking expression. We need to revisit family in this country; there has been a shift away from nurturing the family and today the society is too harsh.

- Ejlaing

Help needed for disturbed children

This should be a warning to parents with disturbed children to get them evaluated. This girl clearly has some mental disorder which should have been addressed years ago. Too many times children (and adults) with serious disabilities are labelled as just 'bad', and no effort is made to find the cause of their behaviour. Abusing the child just makes them more disturbed. All this is fueled by the girl's hatred for her stepmother, why?

- Maureen

Parents need help

Again it brings home to us the harsh realities of mental illness in our country. It is clear that this teenager is mentally ill and unfortunately did not receive help. Nobody's fault, of course, but there are many kids and even adults who are troubled in this way. This is an area on which decision-makers need to place more emphasis - not only on the victims, but helping parents to identify signs and seek help. The school system could also use some assistance in this area.

My heart goes out to the parents of both children. I suggest also that Renee gets counselling with the family to help them through this rough period.

- Veron

Perpetrator a victim

This child, like so many others in Ja, internalise the violence they experience. People, as Jamaicans we are not as tough as we appear. This girl needed help long time and there was no one to recognise it. Now we will again criminalise a victim. What she did was terrible but she is mentally ill.

- Gener123

Society failed family

She is obviously a child with mental issues. Our society stigmatises people with such issues . Should she really be treated as a wicked girl? Society is the one that failed that family. May they provide for her the care she needs to get better and the support she will need to accept her behaviour and move on to be a better adult.

Such a family tragedy! May God be their strength in this time.

- Guest