Children can experience both short and long term emotional effects as a result of witnessing domestic abuse. The response to this may be different for each child and how they exhibit the impact of this trauma may not be easy to identify. They may feel powerless, angry or confused.
The information below may help in how you approach your child about the abuse they may have witnessed and some indicators that your child is suffering the effects of witnessing domestic abuse.
These are some of the effects described in a briefing by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2004):
Listen to what they have to say. A child will appreciate the opportunity to talk about their feelings. Do not push this, they may need some extra time before they feel safe to talk.
Consider an activity such as drawing. Maybe speak with their teacher for support.
Be honest and use age-appropriate language so as not to frighten them.
This will help their self-esteem.
There are projects that support young people and children online. The hideout link has information and quizzes that may be useful.
This is not easy to do and you may feel like you need support. Be honest with your children about this as this may encourage them to agree to support if needed.
The approach to how we deliver our support is reviewed by survivors who tell us what works and what doesn’t. This ensures we deliver the best possible support to survivors in way that suits their needs.
Click on the links below for more information.
Your dedicated support worker will listen to you and help create a safety and support plan and provide external advocacy to get you to where to you need to be to live a life free from abuse.
Your counsellor will work with you on weekly or fortnightly basis (dependent on you needs) this is usually for an hour. They can help you recover from the trauma you have endured.
Our programmes provide a supportive environment which allow you to share and recover from your experiences whilst developing further understanding of your experiences.
Your dedicated Bridge Mentor will work with you at your pace. They are able support you to navigate what can often seem like complex systems to ensure you live in safe home and look forward to a happy future.