Can I break a taboo? Let’s talk about women who live with violence from their kids.

A GP asked colleagues recently why the hospital turned down urgent referrals for kids with mental health issues who are violent.

We don’t do enough for kids’ mental health or women with bruises.

We talk about kids/youth and mental health, but we don’t talk about the parents (primarily women) who are covered in bruises.

Before you comment, no, it isn’t about their parenting or a need for behaviour modification classes.

We don’t offer enough (publicly funded) support.

While docs are asking each other, “How do I get this family help?” (but know it depends on private funds), there are kids are throwing furniture, punching, pushing, yelling, smearing feces on the wall.

The pandemic, school closures, put families (mostly women) at greater risk.

Women aren’t allowed to say that their children punched them, bit them, scratched them, pushed them down.

I grew up with brothers out of control. I’ve had first hand experience with VAW. It isn’t talked about.

What are we going to do about it? Mental health programs ignore it.

@EmpoweredKidsON @CanPaedSociety @CHEO @sickkids @CAMHnews @MDPACanada @CPA_APC @ONPsych @AmerAcadPeds @WomenOMA @WendyGlauser @picardonhealth @AlexMunter @TheRoyalMHC @CMHA_NTL @PedChairsCan @PEAKMD