Childhood abuse is responsible for 40% of mental disorders

Policies to prevent child abuse and neglect must be a priority

A study into child abuse and neglect in Australia has revealed the shocking impact abuse can have on a person’s life. According to the study, they could be responsible for up to 40% of chronic mental disorders.

The mental health conditions examined were anxiety, depression, harmful use of alcohol and drugs, self-harm and suicide attempts. Child abuse includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as emotional or physical neglect before the age of 18.

Child abuse, depression and suicide

Researchers found that child abuse is responsible for no less than 41% of suicide attempts in Australia, as well as 35% of cases of self-harm and 21% of cases of depression.

The analysis, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatryis one of the first studies to provide estimates of the proportion of mental disorders in Australia resulting from child abuse.

The researchers said the findings are a wake-up call for child abuse and neglect to be treated as a national public health priority.

“The findings are devastating and represent an urgent call to invest in prevention, not only in providing individual support to children and families, but also in broader policies to reduce the stress experienced by families,” said doctor and researcher Lucinda Grummitt , from the University of Sydney, who conducted the study.

Preventing abuse would avoid hardship for millions of people

“Investment to tackle child abuse has the potential to prevent millions of cases of mental health disorders in Australia.”

The analysis also found that if child abuse was eradicated in Australia, more than 1.8 million cases of depression, anxiety and substance use disorders could be prevented.

The study also found that eliminating child abuse in Australia would prevent 66,143 years of life lost and 118,493 years lived with disability by 2023, for a total of 184,636 years of healthy life lost due to health conditions mental.

The researchers examined data that included national surveys provided by the Australian Child Maltreatment Study in 2023 (with 8,500 participants), the Australian National Mental Health and Wellbeing Study 2020-2022 (15,893 participants) and the Australian burden of disease study 2023.

The study used analytical methods to investigate the link between child abuse and mental health, while isolating other influential factors such as genetics or social environment. This provides stronger evidence that child abuse causes some mental health conditions.

Mental disorders are currently a leading cause of disability globally, affecting 13% of the world’s population. In Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people.

Previous research has already shown that more than half (53.8%) of Australians have experienced abuse in childhood, which is very worrying.

Effective interventions

Grummitt added that there are effective interventions to address the problem, such as programs to support abused children or educational programs for parents. But, in her opinion, the most sustainable solution to prevent child abuse is prevention guided by public policies.

Policies aimed at alleviating the stress experienced by families, such as paid parental leave, affordable child care, job search support, and ensuring that parents have access to health care and support mental, they can make a big difference to children.

“Addressing the social and economic conditions that give rise to child abuse can play an important role in preventing mental disorders nationwide,” Grummitt concluded.

The researchers cite an example in the United States where the introduction of state paid parental leave policies and timely access to subsidized child care have been strongly linked to reducing rates of child abuse.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.