The Children’s Hospital Zurich has never before recorded as many suspected cases of child abuse as in 2020. Abuse was suspected in 592 children, and this has been confirmed in 397 cases. The number of unreported cases is likely to be even greater. Specialists therefore advise keeping your eyes and ears open in order to identify and prevent child abuse.
In the article by RADIO TOP, the head of the Okey department in Winterthur gives tips on how to combat child abuse:
If you suspect abuse of a child, Gabriela Kaiser, head of the Okey department, advises you to question the child’s behavior. “There are many behaviors in a child that are noticeable.” Typical here are when a child is aggressive, withdraws, injures himself or falls back into behavioral patterns of young children. “Then it’s time to approach the child very carefully.”
However, speaking to a child takes courage and can also have negative effects. That is why Gabriela Kaiser emphasizes that she should exercise tact. It is also very important: “Never mind your parents.” Because the child wrestles for the loyalty of the parents. In the conversation, the children should therefore be shown that the attitude towards their parents is neutral. “It is important to find out how the relationship with the parents is.”
In addition to a conversation with the child concerned, it is also possible, according to Kaiser, to speak to the parents. This, for example, if a bad argument could be heard or this occurs several times. But here, too, caution is advised: “That is why it is important if a specialist department is involved in the event of uncertainty.” This can support and advise people who want to help. According to Kaiser, this would be better too early than too late.
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