All across the globe, children’s mental health is a huge concern, and especially with last year’s COVID-19 implications, the issue of their well-being in current times was again brought into the limelight.
Our world’s future rests on the young generation as it has always been throughout our history, which is why they are reigning kings and queens of our planet.
With the majority of students missing out on school time last year and being locked inside, they became prisoners in their own homes.
According to a recent study by the AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation), one in six U.S. children between the ages of 6-17 years old suffers from a treatable mental health disorder.
This included the likes of anxiety, depression, and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Furthermore, nearly 50% of children with these disorders failed to receive neither any proper counseling nor any form of adequate treatment from a mental health professional. Moreover, this analysis represents 16.5% or 7.7 million U.S. children.
COVID-19’s Impact on Domestic Violence
A study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine entitled “Covid-19 and Domestic Violence: an Indirect Path to Social and Economic Crisis” discusses in detail how the pandemic has impacted societies. Furthermore, a growing stream of literature has also highlighted that there has been an increase in domestic violence cases during COVID-19.
One of the biggest reason behind this were the restrictions imposed on physical distance along with families spending most of their time staying inside their homes.
However, we simply cannot negate the fact that COVID-19 brought not only fatalities but also disrupted the lives of billions of people across the globe, including those who lost their jobs, livelihoods, and means of earning a decent living.
All of these problems, combined together, definitely caused frustration levels at homes to skyrocket and go out of control. Not only did the rise in violence contributed to social crises but also economic ones as well.
While homes are considered places to protect ourselves, these options no longer serve such a purpose in such conditions. Plus, parents lose childcare, which can be a considerable loss for victims as it can often be quite difficult to get support from family and community members.
Domestic Violence Cases in the Pandemic Era
The COVID-19 restrictions, limitations, and measures for social distancing brought the world to its knees. This rise in tension and frustration caused many of us and our lives to become distraught.
With more people spending time indoors, something had to give, and unfortunately, domestic violence cases increased sharply all around the world.
For instance, in Brazil, a 40-50% rise in domestic violence incidents was reported, and in other places like Spain and Cyprus, an increase of 20-30% was recorded. Even in the U.K., just within the first week after strict social distancing and lockdown measures were enacted, a 25% increase in domestic violence calls was reported.
As for the USA, some states experienced a spike in the case. For example, in Portland, a 22% increase in arrests related to domestic violence was recorded.
For Jefferson County, Alabama, a 27% increase in domestic violence-related calls was reported during March 2020 compared to March 2019. In New York City also a 10% increase in domestic violence-related incidents was observed. At Master Thesis U.K. students are encouraged to report all such social injustices to the proper authorities immediately.
Impact of Domestic Violence on Children Mind Set
Experiencing domestic violence is never an easy ordeal. Especially for young children, it can create lifelong lasting traumas that can lead to the development of severe insecurities within their personalities.
So, damaging are the aftermaths of domestic violence that it is considered a serious offense that carries severe punishment by law in some societies worldwide.
Young learners who seek the help of professionals to do my coursework understand that hurting others is just plain wrong and should be reprimanded. October is often considered Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
People are educated that somewhere on this planet, domestic violence is happening and that we are truly never free of this vice in our societies.
Children are the worst who are affected by it since they are often helpless in these kinds of situations and don’t know what to do to subside the situation or run away from it.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and American Academy of Pediatrics proclaim that child abuse also co-occurs during such incidents where kids become alarming vulnerable to damaging harm.
This can lead to life-long mental health effects similar to those who had experienced abuse directly.
After Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Minds
The after-effect of domestic violence on children is indeed quite damaging and can lead to all sorts of physical and mental trauma that can bring distraught in their lives that can last till they are adults.
Perhaps one of the most damaging impacts on children, after observing or experiencing domestic violence firsthand, is the heavy blow to their self-esteem. Pupils who opt for essay help U.K. definitely know just how important self-esteem is when growing up.
Some of the children might also become victims of physical abuse, which can lead to all sorts of problems in their personality development years. Short-term effects of domestic violence on children include fear, anxiety, and reacting anxiously. Long term effects of domestic violence on children include:
- Becoming an abuser or bully in the later stages of their lives is known as repeating the cycle.
- Entering into abusive relationships with others and becoming abusers themselves.
- Children who witness or are victims of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are at a higher risk of developing health problems as adults.
Conclusion
There is no question that during the childhood years, kids are naïve and innocent. However, this also is the prime time where they are absorbing and grasping everything happening around their surroundings. During this time period, their learning shoots upwards, and it is also the time when their personalities are molded.
Hence if they go through any childhood trauma, it can greatly impact their lives, and this can have long-lasting repercussions even when they grow up, leading to the development of severe insecurities.
I hope and wish that all do our very best to protect our kids and children from going through such experiences in the first place. As parents, we should always keep our scuffles away from our dear loved ones.
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