Do you feel as angry as I do when you hear yet another news story about adults, usually men, who sexually abuse children and adolescents? Almost every newscast on television reports a new incident, if not nationally, but here in my own community. And I don’t live in a high crime area.
Do you feel as angry as I do when you hear yet another news story about adults, usually men, who sexually abuse children and adolescents? Almost every newscast on television reports a new incident, if not nationally, but here in my own community. And I don’t live in a high crime area.
Even assuming that some,maybe many of the perpetrators are mentally ill, the numbers seem staggering. I wonder, how can our society do better? How can we adults protect vulnerable children?
Thankfully, smart people are working on solutions but in the meantime all of us who have children, grandchildren or other children in our care must do whatever we can to be the first line of defense.
One mother’s story
This article by Stacy Harrison ,who blogs at Revisions of Grandeur ,caught my attention. She recounts a time when her child might have become an abuse statistic but didn’t due to her vigilance as a mother. She thwarted a potential attack upon her son by
trusting her instincts
talking to her child
disregarding stereotypes and
being aware of where she was vulnerable
I encourage you to read her post and consider her suggestions for keeping our children safe.
“Sexual abuse can happen to children of any race, socioeconomic group, religion or culture. There is no foolproof way to protect children from sexual abuse, but there are steps you can take to reduce this risk. If something happens to your child, remember that the perpetrator is to blame—not you and especially not the child.”
At this link from RAINN, you’ll find some precautions you can take to help protect the children in your life.
“Stop It Now! has developed a warning signs tip sheet to help identify possible warning signs. Any one sign does not mean that a child was sexually abused, but the presence of several suggests that you begin asking questions and consider seeking help.”
Here is expert advice from the U.S. Department of Justice about
Exposure to violence leads to multiple types of mental and behavioral disorders :depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, sleep and eating disorders, substance abuse and suicide attempts. Adults who experienced childhood trauma struggle with stress due to finances, family and jobs. Abused children often commit crime as adults.
I read the newspaper article in disbelief, then grief; a family of five, parents and three children, murdered in their home in my community. Even more shocking, the assailants were their other two teen-aged children!
Things like this just don’t happen here, a suburban city that is quiet, peaceful and secure. Statistically, one of the safest cities in our state and even the country. But that doesn’t make us immune- violence can happen anywhere to anybody.
“siblings charged with first-degree murder in stabbings of family members”
I know. Two of my husband’s relatives were murdered. One of them survived multiple wounds from a vicious assault, only to die from a second attack. The other one died from an in-home attack, a case that is still open and cold- the killer has never been arrested and brought to justice.
I served as the doctor at a summer camp for children in foster care . Almost all had suffered physical abuse .
“Mother accepts plea deal, prison time for committing child neglect, abuse “
What is interpersonal violence?
The World Health Organization defines interpersonal violenceas
“the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against another person, group or community that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation.”
The major agencies that track statistics on interpersonal violence, call it
“a pervasive public health, social and developmental threat.”
“a leading cause of death, particularly in children, adolescents and young adults.”
“Reporter, photographer shot and killed during live report”
Did you know that exposure to violence can
Cause immediate physical wounds and
Result in long-lasting mental and physical health conditions?
Violence matters because it
Directly affects health care cost and payments
Indirectly stunts economic development
Increases inequality
Erodes human capital
Violence causes physical injuries many of which are fatal or leave permanent disability. Other results include sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and unintended pregnancy and pregnancy complications.
“Elderly woman beaten to death by two people she lived with. “
Medical effects of violence
Violence contributes to several chronic medical conditions although the exact relationship is not clear. These include heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease (possibly due to smoking), diabetes, alcohol abuse and obesity.
“Rape charges filed against man accused of attacking pregnant woman “
Mental and emotional effects of violence
Exposure to violence leads to multiple types of mental and behavioral disorders :depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, sleep and eating disorders, substance abuse and suicide attempts. Adults who experienced childhood trauma struggle with stress due to finances, family and jobs. Abused children often commit crime as adults.
“Teen suspected in violent crime spree arrested”
Our health care system encourages prevention, but tends to focus on the prevention of cancers, heart disease, infectious disease and dementia.
But given the far reaching consequences of interpersonal violence,preventing the resulting health problems is just as important. The multiple factors that contribute to violence makes that a daunting task.
Violence is a public health, social and political problem. Physicians, mental health professionals, teachers, and law enforcement deal with the effects in the course of our work every day.
Opportunities for prevention
The article concludes with a summary of “opportunities for prevention.” The emphasis is on starting in childhood to address the factors than can lead to violence and to focus on the family unit and schools.
What can we do to prevent violence ?
Early childhood visitation
Parenting training
School-based social-emotional learning approach
Early childhood education , Head Start as an example
Public policy; for example , addressing laws related to alcohol sales, since alcohol consumption is associated with violence
Therapeutic approaches , including CBT- cognitive behavioral therapy
“Mothers band together to protect Chicago neighborhood”
Read a true story about surviving violence
( this is an affiliate link; at no extra cost to you, this blog may receive a commission if you buy through this link; thanks.)
The astonishing story of one man’s recovery in the face of traumatic loss—and a powerful meditation on the resilience of the soul
On July 23, 2007, Dr. William Petit suffered an unimaginable horror: Armed strangers broke into his suburban Connecticut home in the middle of the night, bludgeoned him nearly to death, tortured and killed his wife and two daughters, and set their house on fire. He miraculously survived, and yet living through those horrific hours was only the beginning of his ordeal.
Broken and defeated, Bill was forced to confront a question of ultimate consequence: How does a person find the strength to start over and live again after confronting the darkest of nightmares?
In The Rising, acclaimed journalist Ryan D’Agostino takes us into Bill Petit’s world, using unprecedented access to Bill and his family and friends to craft a startling, inspiring portrait of human strength and endurance.
To understand what produces a man capable of surviving the worst, D’Agostino digs deep into Bill’s all-American upbringing, and in the process tells a remarkable story of not just a man’s life, but of a community’s power to shape that life through its embrace of loyalty and self-sacrifice as its most important values. Following Bill through the hardest days—through the desperate times in the aftermath of the attack and the harrowing trials of the two men responsible for it—The Rising offers hope that we can find a way back to ourselves, even when all seems lost.
Today, Bill Petit has remarried. He and his wife have a baby boy. The very existence of this new family defies rational expectation, and yet it confirms our persistent, if often unspoken, belief that we are greater than what befalls us, and that if we know where to look for strength in trying times, we will always find it.
Bill’s story, told as never before in The Rising, is by turns compelling and uplifting, an affirmation of the inexhaustible power of the human spirit.
reprinted from a Goodreads review
Exploring the HEART of understanding and preventing the health effects of violence
All the quotes about violent crimes that I used in this post I found in recent news headlines. They are all from true events.
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Shootings in the United States have resulted in numerous casualties across diverse demographics. An active shooter poses a significant threat, necessitating preparedness. The recommended response includes three strategies: RUN to safety, HIDE if escape is impossible, and FIGHT as a last resort. Prioritizing personal and collective safety is crucial.
watercress words by Dr Aletha 