Quebec's youth protection directorate sounds alarm about psychologically abused kids
Batshaw sees 20% increase in reports of psychological mistreatment
Quebec's directorate of youth protection says agencies across the province have seen a three per cent increase in complaints from minors about psychological mistreatment over the last eight years.
The 2015-2016 report by the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) seeks to raise awareness about the issue, so that more adults take action when they see children enduring psychological abuse.
"It is an area of maltreatment that is less spoken of and less heard of," said Assunta Gallo, director of youth protection for CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, the regional agency that administers Batshaw Youth and Family Centres. Batshaw serves English-Montrealers across the island.
The DPJ says psychological mistreatment can take many forms, including:
- Exposure to violence.
- Isolation.
- Threats.
- Excessive control.
- Conflict between a couple.
"When we look at the law, psychological mistreatment is very clear. It tells us to look for situations that are serious and continuous," said Sonia Mailloux, director of youth protection for Laval's regional health and social services agency.
Batshaw sees 20% increase
In the last year, Montreal's anglophone and allophone community, served by Batshaw, saw a 20 per cent increase in cases related to psychological mistreatment.
Gallo says that jump can, in part, be chalked up to greater vigilance by youth protection workers, because of new guidelines that have been drawn up.
They're not feeling loved. They're not feeling wanted. They are being denigrated or being humiliated.- Assunta Gallo, director of youth protection services for CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal
She also notices a sea change in terms of overall awareness of the issue.
"As a society, we're collectively becoming more alert to the fact that psychological mistreatment has long-term impacts on children," she said.
Problems focusing and learning in school, low self-esteem and behavioural issues are just a few of the possible effects of psychological mistreatment.
"They're not feeling loved. They're not feeling wanted. They are being denigrated or being humiliated. This becomes something that they believe about themselves: that they are not deserving of being loved," Gallo said.
Laval youth centres see decrease in runaways
Despite several high-profile cases of runaways from Laval youth centres in the last few months, Mailloux says that the situation is "under control."
- Laval group home locks doors after string of runaways
- Teen's temporary disappearance from group home raised fears of F1 sex trade
"Compared to this day a year ago, there have been 50 per cent less runaways from youth centres," she said.
She noted that three out of four runaways are gone for less than 24 hours.
"Youth centres are not in crisis," said Éric Salois, director of youth protection for the CISSS Delanaudière.
This February, the provincial government responded to public concern about a string of runaway teens – and fears many were being lured into prostitution – by announcing new measures aimed at preventing the sexual exploitation of teenage girls.
The project, called Prévention Jeunesse, will see $3 million invested over five years.