Perceptions About Mental And Emotional Abuse:
Most participants agreed that mental and emotional abuse can be as damaging to a child as physical abuse but were concerned about when and how government should intervene.
· It’s every bit as bad and maybe worse.
· Emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse, because it rips up a child’s self esteem.
· You can make a case for mental abuse, however, that’s opening up a can of worms.
· There must be proof that abuse or neglect is occurring before the intervention goes too far.
· They can’t take them (the children) away just because parents are low income.
· Children should be removed immediately if the case is extreme. (Note the recurring standard: extreme. At the same time, note the varying criteria for judging a specific situation to be extreme. This is, of course, one of the central dilemmas in child protection.)
· Except in the most intolerable situations, a progression of steps should occur prior to the child’s removal from the home.
· Family counseling, parenting classes, and other supports such as drug or alcohol rehabilitation programs should be made available to families that are in serious trouble.
· The intervention must be appropriate to the situation.