2018 Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week

The first week of May marks Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Like physical health, mental health, especially for young minds, is critical for proper development.

According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), “Witnessing or being the victim of violence, serious injury, or physical or sexual abuse can be traumatic…Sadly, about one of every four children will experience a traumatic event before the age of 16.”

A child that has suffered from trauma may have reactions that include depression, behavioral changes, physical symptoms, sleeping and eating issues, to name a few. These symptoms manifest into stress and countless other issues for the child and family.

This past February, a Guardian House champion, Judge Peter Sakai, told KSAT12 News that the 36% increase in 2017 of child abuse cases was attributed to, “…drug addiction. It’s mental health issues. It’s domestic and family violence.”

Unfortunately, some children are caught in the middle of domestic abuse which is sometimes physical – but always emotional.  At Guardian House, our goal is to help reduce the stress that a child experiences by shielding the child from abuse through our supervised visits and monitored exchanges. Protecting the hearts and minds of children drives us to reduce the emotional toil that children face when they are caught in the middle of their parents’ conflict.

How Can You Help A Child?

According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, below are the four major types of child abuse and signs that a child may be in danger of abuse. If you suspect maltreatment, contact 1-800-252-5400.

Physical Abuse

Physical Abuse is physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child. The physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) can result from punching, beating, shaking, kicking, biting, throwing, stabbing, hitting, burning, choking, or otherwise harming a child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caretaker intended to hurt the child.

Suspect Physical Abuse When You See:

• Frequent injuries such as bruises, cuts, black eyes, or burns without adequate explanations
• Frequent complaints of pain without obvious injury
• Burns or bruises in unusual patterns that may indicate the use of an instrument or human bite; cigarette burns on any part of the body
• Lack of reaction to pain
• Aggressive, disruptive, and destructive behavior
• Passive, withdrawn, and emotionless behavior
• Fear of going home or seeing parents
• Injuries that appear after a child has not been seen for several days
• Unreasonable clothing that may hide injuries to arms or legs

Neglect

Neglect is failure to provide for a child’s basic needs necessary to sustain the life or health of the child, excluding failure caused primarily by financial inability unless relief services have been offered and refused.

Suspect Neglect When You See:

• Obvious malnourishment
• Lack of personal cleanliness
• Torn or dirty clothing
• Stealing or begging for food
• Child unattended for long periods of time
• Need for glasses, dental care, or other medical attention
• Frequent tardiness or absence from school

Sexual Abuse

Sexual Abuse includes fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or producing pornographic materials.

Suspect Sexual Abuse When You See:

• Physical signs of sexually transmitted diseases
• Evidence of injury to the genital area
• Pregnancy in a young girl
• Difficulty in sitting or walking
• Extreme fear of being alone with adults of a certain sex
• Sexual comments, behaviors or play
• Knowledge of sexual relations beyond what is expected for a child’s age
• Sexual victimization of other children

Emotional Abuse

Emotional Abuse is mental or emotional injury that results in an observable and material impairment in a child’s growth, development, or psychological functioning. It includes extreme forms of punishment such as confining a child in a dark closet, habitual scapegoating, belittling, and rejecting treatment for a child.

Suspect Emotional Abuse When You See:

• Over compliance
• Low self-esteem
• Severe depression, anxiety, or aggression
• Difficulty making friends or doing things with other children
• Lagging in physical, emotional, and intellectual development
• Caregiver who belittles the child, withholds love, and seems unconcerned about the child’s problems

References:
https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/what_is_child_traumatic_stress.pdf
https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Child_Safety/recognize_abuse.asp
https://www.ksat.com/news/sharp-rise-in-child-abuse-neglect-cases-in-bexar-county