After just re-reading the whole thread (not for the first time) I think one aspect of incomprehension expressed initially by some people about this thread might be because they read the OP's first and second post and perhaps forgot to look at the title of the thread: that powerless feeling (sensitive topic).

In the context of the title, it was obvious to me what the first and second post were aimed at. The title explained the intention of the thread.

I suppose we could just put our heads in the sand and ignore other people's pain.

Or we could empathise with that pain and try to find ways to help other people, and especially to recognise that pain when those people could benefit from support.

The sense of powerlessness is usually, in my experience, felt after a tragic event of violence or suicide has occurred and I wonder why I didn't recognise the indications of the person's pain beforehand, and why I didn't or couldn't take action to try to help that person. I even feel this sense of powerlessness when I read about events in the media and didn't know the people involved, because I know how prevalent domestic abuse is in society and I know that we all could be doing more to try to turn this situation around.