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Child abuse is never something people find easy to talk about. Perhaps this is one of the many reasons why it is such a huge problem in our society. The taboo put on sex, and the shame which follows rape victims are multiplied when it comes to children. A society which chooses to bury its head in the sand rather than facing such cruel acts head-on and standing up for children who are violated, even raped, is not a society which deserves to call itself civilized.
“it is a terrifying, heart-wrenching story that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Until those responsible are punished, we need to continue talking about this”
Recently, Future British Schools were bombarded with statements from angry parents after a woman whose son went to the school filed an official complaint. The complaint stated that her son has been raped, along with other children by a staff member of the school. Investigation is still underway. However, it is a terrifying, heart-wrenching story that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Until those responsible are punished, we need to continue talking about this. The idea that this could happen has rung a bell inside the heads of many parents, and rightfully so.
We spoke to Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Hammouda, Assistant Lecturer at Azhar University, Specialist in Child Neuropsychiatry and Head of Child Neuropsychiatry Center about the signs parents should look out for in an abused child, and what to do if their child was abused.
Telltale Signs that your Child is Abused
- Anxiety and depression
- Irritability and violence. This can manifest as being stubborn and argumentative with parents, or violent with schoolmates.
- Signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Becoming abusive. As the child sees the person abusing them as someone in a powerful position.
That being said, Dr. Mohamed says that all these signs are non-conclusive, “we can’t say there’s a sharp psychological evidence”, he tells, “the most conclusive sign is physical”.
What to do if your Child was Abused
- See a psychiatrist. Whether the abuse was physical or sexual.
- The abused child has to stay informed on the case against their abuser. They need to know that they were punished so they don’t see them in a position of power, but rather as someone who committed a crime and was punished.
- Treat your child normally. Don’t make them feel like what happened to them is unbearable. Tell them that this is a painful experience that he will learn from.
