THE FINDINGS by Dr. Claudette Crawford-Brown of the significant exposure to violence - even murder - of Jamaican children who live in inner-city communities should be hardly surprising to most people. This should be especially so to those of us who are or want to be aware of what is happening around us.

We need only think about it, even a little bit. Each year, for many years now, Jamaica records well over 1,000 murders. And the vast majority of the killings take place in inner-city areas where, in the midst of poverty, privation and weak or absent parental guidance, children are hardly ever afforded the insulation taken for granted in most middle-class homes.

So, in her survey of 115 children from two primary schools in communities known for significant levels of violence, Dr. Crawford-Brown found that 80 per cent either witnessed between five and eight murders or had seen the bodies of that number of murder victims. Another 10 per cent had either witnessed the murders or seen the bodies of nine or more murder victims. Only 10 per cent had either not witnessed killings or seen the bodies of fewer than four victims of homicide.

Being in primary school, most of these children would be under the age of 12. And given that Dr. Crawford-Brown's survey covered only two communities, we can begin to extrapolate her findings across inner-city Jamaica. The result is likely to be that Jamaica, if we are not already there, has a potential crisis on its hands that is in need of urgent attention. But this intervention cannot be one of business as usual.

Dr. Crawford-Brown was surprised that given the prevalence of the exposure to violence among these children, only a few exhibit post-traumatic stress disorder or other disorders associated with children in such circumstances. These children adapt. Survival mechanisms kick in early.

And therein lies the danger. For it suggests to us that we are developing generations of callused, if not callous young people, who internalise blood, gore and death as the norm. In other words, these are hopeless generations and people who are unlikely to adhere to prevailing norms and social values.

Jamaica, in this regard, may not be far from the precipice. The issue of urgency, therefore, is the nature of the intervention to haul us back from the cusp of chaos. It has to be multifaceted and zealous.

In the first instance, the situation demands a massive programme in schools to counter this desensitisation that comes from this constant association with violence and death. The education authorities have long talked of such an intervention, but has not delivered in the magnitude and scope required.

But this is a project not only for schools; popular entertainers, community leaders and others have to be co-opted into the effort, with a message that can be effective without being sanitised. Jamaica has to be portrayed as a real place with prospects and hope rather than a retro-myth.

This also has to be buttressed by social programmes and policies which foster economic growth and create jobs, helping to wean people from the hard men of violence. It must be accompanied by moral leadership that turns its face against corruption. Critically, too, the rest of us can't believe that we can retreat behind high walls and electronic gates and be forever safe.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.