Emotionally-abused children prone to lead troubled lives during adulthood

The Child Protection Unit (CPU) Philippines yesterday said emotionally abused children are likely to lead troubled lives during adulthood.

“History of child abuse was linked with higher rates in adult life of depressive and anxiety symptoms, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorders,” CPU executive director Dr. Bernadette Madrid said.

Madrid added the effects of maltreatment of children are lethal. The impact is delayed and slow to develop but acute when they occur. “Adults who were abused during childhood experience its worst effects long after they have entered adulthood.”

“There is an immediate need to protect children’s rights through effective support system to provide children’s basic needs and stricter child protection laws,” Madrid said.

According to Madrid, emotional abuse tends to create the feeling of worthlessness, that the child is unwanted, unloved, damaged, inferior, or has no real purpose, and that is the intention of the abuser’s actions.

CPU targets to help at least 10,000 children annually by establishing one national and six regional training and treatment centers which will be augmented by 25 child protection units in key areas in the country and 81 satellite offices nationwide in the next five years.

The centers and clinics that will be put up around the country aim to assist victims and their families get medical, psychosocial and legal protection.

“CPU aims to augment government’s and civil society’s effort in preventing and assisting victims through a long-term program through expansion of the network throughout the country, educating society and proactively protecting children who find themselves on the raw end,” she said.

Emotional abuse includes: Terrorizing, spurning, emotional or physical neglect, isolation and exploitation.

Data from the Philippine National Police’s National Women’s and Children’s Desk show that reported child abuse cases reached 9,787 in 2009 — a thousand more than reported the previous year. –Daily Tribune