"Everyone has the right to be treated with respect and the responsibility to respect others”
(www.bullying.org)

What are the consequences of family violence?

Some parents hope that if their children do not see the violence, it will not harm them. Others think they can protect their children from the impact of the violence. But family violence harms children even if they are not consciously aware of the violence or if they are in a different room when it happens. Exposure to family violence has a dramatic effect on children. In fact, children exposed to family violence can be affected as much as the individual experiencing the violence.
(Alberta Children and Youth Services)

 

Immediate response – young people who have been abused or who have been exposed to family violence may experience:
- stress symptoms (insomnia, depression), low self-esteem, difficulty in concentrating at school

- feelings of isolation, despair/helplessness, humiliation/fear, being overwhelmed,  anger and rage

- difficulty in trusting other people

- avoiding coming home by running away or staying at a friend’s place

- an urge to engage in self destructive behaviours

- preoccupying thoughts of suicide as a way to resolve their situation.

- preoccupying thoughts of revenge

 

It is important to realize that targeted people who experience abuse do not bring violence on themselves. And every person has the capability to change.