Emotional and physical abuse of children go hand in hand, according to Catherine Costigan, clinical psychologist and professor in the University of Victoria psychology department.
When physical abuse occurs, quite often emotional abuse will follow, she said. But it is also important to highlight that some of the parents carrying out this abuse aren91裸聊视频檛 necessarily monsters looking to harm their children.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e people with inadequate support, inadequate coping skills and a lot of stress in their lives,91裸聊视频� she said.
There is also a distinction between 91裸聊视频渉arsh parenting,91裸聊视频� where a parent might spank a child with an open hand and place limits on a child, but the harshness can become more physical and go beyond what is good parental control, Costigan said.
91裸聊视频淭here are certainly good types of parental control that should be involved. They should have rules. They should have limits,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淏ut you can do that without hurting the child physically, without hurting the child emotionally.91裸聊视频�
B.C. has the highest rate of child maltreatment in Canada, according to Stats Canada, with 69.5 per cent of children under the age of 15 experiencing either physical or non-physical maltreatment.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 emotional abuse, which can be just as damaging as physical abuse. And then there are several different forms of neglect. Physical neglect, emotional neglect,91裸聊视频� she said.
Teenagers tend to receive more verbal abuse, whereas younger children are subjected to physical abuse, according to Costigan.
91裸聊视频淎s kids get bigger, they will fight back,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淪o it91裸聊视频檚 maybe more of a cue not to do that.91裸聊视频�
There might be a variety of reasons that B.C. has high rates of child abuse, said Costigan, as families who are living in poverty can be most at risk of spiralling into abuse.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a lot of housing insecurity, food insecurity that raises the stress that parents face. It might be part of an explanation of why there would be higher abuse rates here,91裸聊视频� she said.
Child abuse is not just a family-centric problem, and abusers can take many forms, she said. 91裸聊视频淐ub Scout leaders, or anytime an adult is in a position of trust and authority.91裸聊视频�
The traditional coach relationship can be where abuse can be happening right before our eyes, said Cositgan, and when the drill sergeant type coach starts to turn physical and should be called out for going too far, said Costigan.
It can be difficult for children to come forward about abuse occurring in a family unit as reporting what is happening might result in the family being broken up and the child being removed, said Costigan.
91裸聊视频淔inding supportive, safe environments where the child91裸聊视频檚 world doesn91裸聊视频檛 get turned upside down,91裸聊视频� she said.
There is a lot of help available for parents who are abused and children receiving the abuse, she said, with community centers and child-centred psychologists in Victoria being able to offer help.
91裸聊视频淚f they91裸聊视频檙e struggling, there are publicly funded mental health resources,91裸聊视频� she said.
Child abuse is a problem that is getting better on a large scale, and attitudes around parenting have changed, which are positive things, said Costigan, but as the economic downturn and stress increase, things can get worse.
It is important not to demonize those who might be abusers as doing so just keeps people in the shadows as those who are ashamed of their behaviour might be less likely to reach out for help, said Costigan.
91裸聊视频淩ecognizing this as a situation where the risks and the stress have outweighed the person91裸聊视频檚 support,91裸聊视频� she said.
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