Forum: Small acts of empathy key to protecting the vulnerable

With the recent news surrounding the case of Megan Khung, especially the release of the review panel’s report, I found myself reflecting deeply on my own journey as a social worker (The Megan Khung report was painful to read, but offers hard lessons to prevent another tragedy, Oct 24).

My heart goes out to Megan, her loved ones, and to all children who have slipped through the cracks of the very system meant to protect them.

While acknowledging the gaps in our social support systems is necessary, it would be an oversimplification to attribute such tragedies solely to the failings of a few agencies.

No single organisation or even a coalition of government bodies can entirely prevent such outcomes.

As agencies strengthen their efforts through enhanced training for social workers, improved risk assessment frameworks, and clearer escalation protocols, a crucial piece of the puzzle still lies with the wider society.

Rather than looking only to institutions for answers, we must also look inwards as members of one community and embody empathy.

This is vital to supporting both social workers and the families they serve.

I recall a case where a neighbour noticed signs of distress and worked with us to ensure timely help for a mother and her son facing family violence.

The neighbour’s willingness to act, coupled with consistent professional intervention, changed the trajectory of that young family’s life.

Unfortunately, such neighbours are rare.

More often, people choose to stay out of it due to fear or uncertainty.

Empathy requires courage and sometimes inconvenience: checking in on someone, offering support, or stepping up to volunteer.

Small acts can change the course of a life.

There were many points of possible intervention in Megan’s case, and one stood out in particular: when she was reportedly humiliated in public.

Stripped of my role as a social worker, I ask myself honestly: If I had been a passer-by then, would I have stepped in, or simply looked away?

Our society needs fewer bystanders who express sorrow only online in hindsight of such tragedies, and more everyday individuals who live out empathy in quiet, consistent ways.

Real change begins not only in policy or systems, but also in the hearts and actions of ordinary people.

Yeow Ming Zhen