What Is Abuse?
What is 'abuse'?
The term 'abuse' can be used to describe anything from being called a bad word to being physically assaulted, from being neglected to having your money controlled. It is the endangering of a child, young person, or adult's well-being, and it is often aimed at those who are more vulnerable. It can come from a partner, spouse, sibling, peer, teacher; anyone.
According to the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), the main types of abuse can be broken down into the following categories:
Bullying & Cyberbullying
Bullying is behaviour that hurts someone else. It includes name-calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours, threatening or undermining someone. Cyberbullying, similar to bullying, can only take place online.
Child Sexual Exploitation
CSE is a type of sexual abuse in which a child or young person is given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities
Child Trafficking
Trafficking is where children and young people are tricked, forced or persuaded to leave their homes and are moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold.
Criminal Exploitation
Criminal exploitation is child abuse where children and young people are manipulated and coerced into committing crimes.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse can be emotional, physical, sexual, financial or psychological.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse, also referred to as Psychological Abuse, is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional mistreatment of a child. It can be attempting to purposefully scare, humiliate, isolate or ignore a child.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
FGM is when a female's genitals are deliberately altered or removed for non-medical reasons. It's also known as 'female circumcision' or 'cutting', but has many other names.
Grooming
Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.
Children and young people who are groomed can be sexually abused, exploited or trafficked.
Neglect
Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child's basic needs and the most common form of child abuse. This can put children and young people in danger. And it can also have long term effects on their physical and mental wellbeing.
Non-Recent Abuse
Non-recent child abuse, sometimes called historical abuse, is when an adult was abused as a child or young person under the age of 18. Sometimes adults who were abused in childhood blame themselves or are made to feel it’s their fault.
Online Abuse
Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the internet. It can happen across any device that's connected to the web, like computers, tablets and mobile phones.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is when someone hurts or harms a child or young person on purpose.
Sexual Abuse
When a child or young person is sexually abused, they're forced or tricked into sexual activities. They might not understand that what's happening is abuse or that it's wrong.
*all of the definitions were directly taken from the NSPCC website.
How to report safeguarding concerns:
Reporting any safeguarding concern is a daunting task, but it is an important one that any one should do. Whether you know of someone who is being abused, or you are a teacher at a local school, or even if you are a healthcare professional, if you think someone is unsafe, it must be reported.
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If you suspect the person is in immediate danger, call 999 for the police without hesitation.
If you suspect the person is being abused but don't think if it's an emergency, call the police on 101.
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Even if you don't feel comfortable reporting the incident to the police, you can always tell fellow peers, teachers, support staff, parents, anyone who will listen and help with the situation. Here at PAS, we will always listen to a concern and will always act accordingly; forever with your safety in mind.
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Trying to do the right thing can be stressful, especially if the person you are concerned about is reluctant to accept support or has you sworn to secrecy. In situations like this, it is always better to be safe than sorry.