Emine Bulut, who was murdered by her divorced husband in front of their 10-year-old daughter in Kırıkkale, brought the effects of violence on children back to the agenda. Experts emphasize that witnessing domestic violence causes severe trauma for children, and that children exposed to chronic domestic violence suffer significant social, emotional and cognitive damage even if they themselves are not subjected to violence. According to experts, these children experience many problems in the short and long term, their academic achievement decreases, they have excessive anxiety and anxious moods, and their sense of self-confidence decreases.
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten evaluated the effects of violence, which has been on the agenda in recent days, on children.
A child who witnesses violence starts life with a minus
Stating that a child who witnesses violence cannot look to the future with hope, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said
"The most innocent witness of violence against women is the child. Especially if the violence he/she witnesses is his/her mother, to whom he/she is attached from the moment he/she opens his/her eyes, who feeds him/her, raises him/her with love and with whom he/she knows the world, he/she starts his/her life with a big minus. For this child, the world will never be a safe place, they will never be able to look to the future with hope, and most importantly, they will never feel like a valuable human being. Healthy societies are only formed by raising healthy individuals. At this point, it is extremely important to take all necessary precautions regarding the mental health of our children, to support our women and families, and to take immediate action for appropriate interventions when necessary."
Domestic violence traumatizes children
Stating that domestic violence and violence against women continue to be experienced all over the world and in our country despite much emphasis and studies on the subject, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "Violence affects many families and societies negatively not only through physical means, but also through verbal, emotional, sexual and economic means. Studies show that domestic violence severely traumatizes children both through witnessing and inflicting violence on them. It is determined that children exposed to chronic domestic violence suffer significant social, emotional and cognitive injuries even if they themselves are not subjected to violence. These children experience many problems in the short and long term. Decreased academic achievement, excessive anxiety and anxious mood, sleep and appetite disorders, decreased self-confidence, feeling worthless and inadequate, inability to establish friendships are just a few of these problems."
Long-term effects are also very severe
Referring to the long-term effects of domestic violence, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "In the long term, serious problems such as difficulties in establishing relationships with other people, avoiding relationships or establishing superficial relationships, unwittingly entering the victim role in relationships, inflicting violence on those weaker than oneself, depression, suicide attempts, anxiety disorders, and turning to alcohol and substance abuse may occur. Since children are vulnerable beings who have not yet completed their developmental processes, they perceive the events differently from adults, their brain development is negatively affected and as a result, deep scars remain on their mental health and personality in the long term."
The most severe trauma a child can experience
Referring to the grave incident in Kırıkkale, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "A 10-year-old girl witnessed her mother being killed by her father in front of her eyes. This is one of the most severe traumas a child can face in her life. The most important object of love in life has been killed. Such a child's faith and trust in the world, other people and the future are fundamentally shaken. He or she has probably been exposed to emotional and physical domestic violence many times in his or her ten years of life. Research shows that people are more adversely affected by man-made losses than losses caused by natural disasters. Especially if that person is the child's own father, the destructive effects of trauma are experienced much more strongly."
What should be done for this child?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "It is extremely important to take all necessary precautions before such an event occurs and to take steps to prevent such events from happening. However, despite all kinds of precautions, such incidents can still occur all over the world" and listed the things to be done for the child who witnessed the tragic event as follows:
"At this point, it is necessary to emphasize what needs to be done for the child. First of all, it is appropriate to ensure the safety of the child and place him/her in the shelter of relatives or a social service institution. After the child's safety and physical needs are met, rehabilitation should be ensured to restore his/her mental health and harmony with life. In addition to the work of social services, support from child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychologists should be sought in the rehabilitation of the child. The child's mental health should be improved through intensive psychotherapy and, if necessary, medication. The education process should be supported and teachers and counselors should be involved in the process. Emotional, social, cognitive and social support should be continued as long as the child continues to need it. In this way, the negative effects of trauma on the child can be reduced, adaptation to society can be ensured, and the trauma can be processed with the help of psychotherapies and the maturing aspect of the personality can be brought to the forefront."
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said that children who witness violence reflect it in their drawings and paintings.
