Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Child protection
- Authors:
- BULLOCK Roger, LITTLE Michael
- Journal article citation:
- Young Minds Magazine, 24, January 1996, pp.17-19.
- Publisher:
- YoungMinds
Discusses the publication 'Child protection: messages from research' which was published by the Department of Health in 1995. The authors reflect on its findings and consider the implications for the mental health profession.
Childhood trauma, the brain and social work: a short guide about the importance of social relationships for mental health
- Author:
- MCCRORY Eamon
- Publisher:
- UK Trauma Council
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 24
- Place of publication:
- London
This short guide about childhood trauma aims to share some of the latest research findings with those who are working every day to support children who have experienced complex trauma in the form of maltreatment. It unpacks in some detail how brain changes can affect a child's social world, and why this is important in helping us understand the mental health of children and young people who have experienced maltreatment. Supportive social relationships are key to good mental health for everyone. To understand why maltreatment increases a child's risk of later mental health problems, it is important that we consider how such experiences can affect social relationships. Understanding how past maltreatment affects a child's current and future social world can help us develop more effective ways for a child to build and maintain supportive social relationships. This can ultimately reduce the risk of mental health problems developing. The guide considers how adults and systems can help build and scaffold a better social world for children. Social workers, foster carers, adoptive parents and teachers can all play a role, as can policy makers, funders and commissioners. (Edited publisher abstract)
Post-lockdown children in crisis: exploring the links between social distancing and the mental health of children in poverty
- Authors:
- McNAIR Riley, BANHAM Phoebe
- Publisher:
- The Childhood Trust
- Publication year:
- 2021
- Pagination:
- 19
- Place of publication:
- London
This report investigates the ways in which long-term social distancing measures have affected and may continue to affect children’s mental health, wellbeing, and development. It ultimately finds that restrictions on social contact have significantly increased mental health issues among vulnerable children and young people in London over the past year and have contributed to clinically significant levels of heightened anxiety and depression amongst a random sample of 68 children from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Key findings include: incidence of mental health issues were two times higher in a sample of disadvantaged children in London (33%) compared to children across England (16%); 82% of charity respondents reported that their beneficiaries were experiencing serious mental health issues as a direct result of lockdown measures; heightened anxiety (88%) and depression (79%) were the most common mental health symptoms experienced by disadvantaged children and young people according to the charities surveyed; incidence of clinical anxiety and depression were 23% higher in a random sample of disadvantaged girls in London aged 15-18 (50%) compared to teenage girls across England (27.2%); the average total anxiety and depression score for boys aged 12-14 evaluated was approximately 30% higher than the mean score for unreferred boys in that age group; charities (41%) supporting approximately 35,215 disadvantaged children in London reported that their beneficiaries experienced greater abuse in home settings during lockdowns; 77% of charity respondents indicated that a lack of social interaction and in-person play time are still compromising their beneficiaries’ mental health post-lockdown; 80% of charity respondents reported that social distancing and lockdown measures have made it challenging for children to exercise and maintain their physical health; 75% of charity respondents reported that their beneficiaries are still experiencing food insecurity, even though children have returned to school and can access more substantial meals. (Edited publisher abstract)
Child sexual abuse and risk of revictimization: impact of child demographics, sexual abuse characteristics, and psychiatric disorders
- Authors:
- PAPALIA Nina, MANN Emily, OGLOFF James R.P
- Journal article citation:
- Child Maltreatment, 26(1), 2021, pp.74-86.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Approximately half of child sexual abuse (CSA) victims report sexual revictimization later in life; however, there is limited rigorous evidence concerning factors contributing to sexual and nonsexual forms of revictimization. This article investigates the relationships between CSA and a range of revictimization experiences. It also examines the role of other individual-level factors (demographics, CSA characteristics, psychiatric disorders) in the risk of revictimization. The study compares data from a prospective-longitudinal study of 2,759 Australian children (<17 years old) alleged to have experienced contact–CSA between 1964 and 1995, and a comparison group matched on sex and age. In each case, CSA was deemed likely to have occurred according to expert forensic medical opinion. Abused children and comparisons were followed to age 35 years on average, and their lifetime official crime victimization histories and public mental health service records were extracted from statewide population-level administrative databases. Relative to comparisons, CSA victims experienced significantly higher rates of revictimization, with marked elevations in odds for interpersonal revictimization (i.e., sexual assault, physical assault, threats of violence, and stalking). The CSA–physical assault relationship was moderated by sex, with a stronger association for female victims. Among CSA victims, victim sex, age at index abuse, and several psychiatric diagnostic categories were independently associated with revictimization risk, with different patterns of vulnerability emerging depending on the nature of revictimization. Overall, CSA victims are vulnerable to a range of revictimization experiences later in life. Findings have implications for the identification of particular groups of sexually abused children at heightened risk for revictimization and the role mental health services may play in mitigating risk. (Edited publisher abstract)
The impact of extrafamilial victimization and poly-victimization on the psychological well-being of English young people
- Authors:
- JACKSON-HOLLIS Vicki, JOSEPH Stephen, BROWNE Kevin
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 67, 2017, p.349–361.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Childhood victimization impacts on the well-being of children and young people, particularly those experiencing an extreme amount of different types of victimization (i.e., poly-victims). However, limited attention has been given to the impact of different categories of extrafamilial victimization (experienced outside of the family), particularly in the UK. The intricacies of the significant detrimental impact poly-victimization has on victims are also poorly understood. In this study, 730 young people, aged 13 to 16 years (mean 13.8 years), from one county in the UK, were surveyed about their lifetime and past year experiences of extrafamilial victimization, the locations in which these occurred, and current trauma symptoms. The results showed that interpersonal forms of extrafamilial victimization (e.g., sexual victimization) were significant predictors of trauma, whilst more indirect forms of extrafamilial victimization (e.g., witnessing the victimization of others) were not. When extrafamilial poly-victimization and number of extrafamilial victim locations were accounted for within regression models, however, this impact was reduced. Poly-victimization within the past year was the strongest predictor of trauma symptoms. Number of victim locations did not significantly predict trauma symptoms above and beyond the impact of poly-victimization, although it was a contributory predictor. These findings suggest that a holistic exploration of a young person's extrafamilial victim experiences is needed in any clinical assessment or research into its psychological impact. Specifically, attention should be given to the experiencing of extreme levels of victimization (e.g., poly-victimization). Further longitudinal research is needed to understand why poly-victimization has the greatest impact on psychological well-being. (Publisher abstract)
Filicide and parental separation and divorce
- Authors:
- BROWN Thea, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse Review, 23(2), 2014, pp.79-88.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper discusses the findings of a ten-year study of filicide in Victoria, Australia, using the data from selected case files held in the Victorian coroner's office for the period 2000–09. The study sought to examine whether separation is a factor in filicide cases, as well as the role of other factors, such as domestic violence and mental illness. Also, the study sought to identify whether filicide perpetrators had contact with support services, including family and friends, general practitioners, mental health services and child protection services, in order to ascertain how these services might more appropriately identify those families most at risk prior to the filicide. The study found that while separation was a factor identified in a significant number of cases, more cases analysed showed evidence of mental illness, mainly depression. These findings suggest the need for improved strategies in preventing filicide by identifying risk factors and improving service responses for victims prior to these tragic events. Key Practitioner Messages: Filicide is uncommon but does occur; Perpetrators fall into three main groups and a different scenario is associated with each group; Associated (risk) factors were found to be mental illness (especially depression), separation, domestic violence and substance abuse; Any client/patient with mental illness and partner separation should be probed for thoughts of harm and Engagement with services is a protective factor. (Edited publisher abstract)
Lifetime prevalence of multiple victimizations and its impact on children’s mental health
- Authors:
- CYR Katie, CLEMENT Marie-Eve, CHAMBERLAND Claire
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 29(4), 2014, pp.616-634.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study sought to document lifetime experiences of individual categories of victimizations and polyvictimization using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire among children from the province of Quebec (Canada) to examine whether polyvictimization predicts mental health symptoms and to assess whether categories of victimization still contribute to mental health symptoms after considering polyvictimization. Polyvictimization accounted for the most variability in scores for depression, anxiety, and anger/aggression compared with individual victimization categories. None of the individual categories of victimization made an independent contribution to the prediction of trauma scores, once polyvictimization was considered. (Publisher abstract)
Identifying and determining the symptom severity associated with polyvictimization among psychiatrically impaired children in the outpatient setting
- Authors:
- FORD Julian D., WASSER Tobias, CONNOR Daniel F.
- Journal article citation:
- Child Maltreatment, 16(3), August 2011, pp.216-226.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Polyvictimisation involves experiencing multiple forms of maltreatment or other interpersonal victimisation. The aim of this study was to replicate the findings of an earlier study of polyvictimisation in severely psychiatrically impaired children (which found that polyvictims are at risk of severe psychosocial impairment), using a larger and less impaired clinical population of children receiving outpatient psychiatric services. Cluster analysis was used to identify a group of 22 polyvictimised children among 295 outpatient admissions to the University of Connecticut Health Center Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic from 2007 to 2009. The article describes the method, measures and statistical analyses, and sets out the results. Polyvictimisation was associated with severe parent-reported externalising problems, psychiatric impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder. Further clinical and research assessment of polyvictimisation with child psychiatry outpatients is suggested.
History of interpersonal violence, abuse, and nonvictimization trauma and severity of psychiatric symptoms among children in outpatient psychiatric treatment
- Authors:
- FORD Julian D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(16), November 2011, pp.3316-3337.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Child victims of interpersonal violence are at increased risk of both internalising and externalising psychiatric problems. This study aimed to determine whether specific forms of interpersonal violence were associated with the internalising and externalising psychiatric problems in a clinical sample of child psychiatry outpatients. Study data was collected by chart review of 114 consecutive admissions over a 1-year period at a Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic in the northeastern United States. Data included history of documented maltreatment, potentially traumatic domestic or community violence, neglect or emotional abuse, and noninterpersonal stressors as well as demographics, psychiatric diagnoses, and parent-rated child emotional and disruptive behaviour problems. Analysis revealed that any past exposure to interpersonal violence, but not to noninterpersonal traumas, was related to more severe disruptive behaviour problems. Noninterpersonal trauma and psychiatric diagnoses were associated with emotional problems; exposure to interpersonal violence appeared to partially account for this relationship despite not being independently associated with emotional problem severity. The article concludes that a history of exposure to interpersonal violence should be considered in the assessment and treatment planning of children receiving outpatient psychiatric care.
Child abuse and neglect in the UK today
- Authors:
- RADFORD Lorraine, et al
- Publisher:
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 203p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents new research findings from the NSPCC on child maltreatment in the United Kingdom. The research aimed to provide up to date information on the prevalence and impact of child maltreatment, and to compare rates of childhood experiences reported by young adults interviewed in 2009 with rates reported in an earlier NSPCC study in 1998-9. The study looked at children’s and young adults’ experiences of childhood maltreatment at home, in school and in the community. This first report presents the findings from this research on the prevalence, impact and severity of child maltreatment. The study involved interviews with a random probability sample of parents, young people and young adults about their experiences of child abuse and neglect. The sample consisted of: 2,160 parents or guardians of children aged under 11 years; 2,275 young people aged 11-17 years with additional information from their parents or guardians; and 1,761 young adults aged 18-24 years. The findings show that the rates of child maltreatment reported by young adults aged 18–24 are lower in 2009 than in 1998. However, significant minorities of children and young people in the UK today are experiencing severe maltreatment and this is associated with poorer emotional wellbeing, self-harm, suicidal ideation and delinquent behaviour.