Young Witnesses of Domestic Violence Battle Mental Health Disorders

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

(October 6, 2006) -- Over 3.3 million children live with domestic violence and are at a high risk of developing a mental illness when exposed to traumatizing events, neglect, abuse or the loss of one or both parents.

Violence in the home triggers children to view the world as a hostile and threatening place. Their emotional responses include aggressive behavior, reduced social competence and feelings of guilt, which can lead to substance abuse and dropping out of school.

Children learn how to handle their own conflict, anger and pain by watching their parents. Exposure to violence teaches children that violence is a normal way of life and places them at risk of becoming the next victim or an abuser themselves.

Help a child understand and cope with their emotional responses by seeking a mental health professional. Therapy identifies the special needs of a child and/or family and helps them recover mentally by:

Helping the family create a safe, stable and nurturing environment

• Addressing anger management and conflict resolution skills
• Helping to manage and decrease mental health symptoms
• Encouraging the child to express their feelings
• Promoting open discussion of the child’s experience
• Recognizing the negative impact of violence on the child
• Developing strategies to reinforce positive behavior patterns
• Reinforcing personal growth and development
• Strengthening the ability to heal and recover

A mental health professional, such as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), is trained to assess, diagnose and treat individuals with mental health conditions, such as domestic violence.

Source: The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Last reviewed: 10/06

Related Information:

• Effects of Child Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse
• Protect Your Child Against Abuse
• Safety Tips for Children
• Many US Women Abused by Men, Study Finds
• What Teens Need to Know Before their Relationship Becomes a Date with Danger
• The Damage Caused by Sexual Abuse
• Stalking and Obsessive Love
• The Sexual Self-Perceptions of Young Women Experiencing Abuse in Dating Relationships
• Emotionally Abused Women
• Sexually Abused Men
• Sexual Healing After Sexual Abuse
• Date or Acquaintance Rape
• Relationship Violence Warning Signs
• Coping with Memories Associated with Sexual Abuse
  The Body Remembers
• Getting Out of the Distorted Thinking Trap
• The Male Survivor
• Reporting Rape, Sharing Your Sexual Assault with Others
• Rape Survivors Experience Guilt, Shame
• Trauma and Dissociation
• The Damage Caused by Sexual Abuse

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