An adult who was abused as a child has trouble establishing intimate personal relationships, with a tendency to see all other adults as potential abusers. Without proper treatment, they can be damaged for life. The family can be helped to learn new ways of support and communicating with one another. Through treatment, theabused child begins to regain a sense of self-confidence and trust. Battering is not the only kind of child abuse.
Many children are victims of neglect, or sexual or emotional abuse.
In all kinds of child abuse, the child and the family can benefit from the comprehensive evaluation and care of a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Free distribution of single Facts sheets is a public service made possible by the Academy Endowment Fund. This fund supports educational programs and materials designed to educate parents, families, teachers, caregivers, and others about the mental illnesses affecting nearly 12.5 million children and adolescents in an effort to de-stigmatize these illnesses, promote early identification and treatment, and encourage funding for scientifically based research. Please make a tax deductible contribution to the Academy Endowment Fund and support this public outreach. Facts for Families is developed and distributed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry .