• What is Abuse?
• When to Suspect Abuse
• When a Child Comes to You
• If you Suspect Abuse is Taking Place
• What the Social Worker Will Ask You
• After you Make a Report
• How Children are Protected
• When Children are Removed for Their Homes
• Prevention
• Street-Proofing
• Where to Get Help
• 
  

  If you Suspect Abuse is Taking Place

  Call the Helpline for Children - The Helpline operates 24 hours a day. There's no charge for the call. The person you talk to will be a child protection social worker.

  To report child abuse or neglect Dial 310-1234 (no area code needed)
  TTY 1 866 660-0505
  604 660-0508 (Lower Mainland)

  Kids Help Phone (counseling and referral)
  1 800 668-6868

  Youth Against Violence Line
  1 800 680-4264
  

Why Are Teenage Mothers Likely to Suffer with Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression, or postnatal depression, affects women after childbirth and the symptoms are similar to those listed above. Knowing how to cope with postpartum depression can be tricky, but women who have mental health issues during and after pregnancy can have children who are themselves at a greater risk of developing mental health problems. Teenage pregnancy is likely to be a crisis situation for your child as they suddenly realize their life is about to change so dramatically. Family conflicts, less socializing, lack of supportive networks, low self-esteem and a change in hormones, all contribute towards symptoms of depression in adolescent mothers. A teenager mother experiencing postpartum depression can be a serious issue as she might have trouble bonding with her new baby or even have thoughts of harming herself or the baby. Make sure you seek immediate help if you suspect your daughter of feeling this way.

How Is Childhood Depression Treated? 

For help with depression you should see your family physician and discuss with them a referral to a qualified mental health professional. Like most mental health conditions, childhood depression is treated with a mixture of prescribed medication and therapy, with CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) proving to be highly successful.

What Else Can I Do to Help My Child?

Helping and supporting your child by giving them a healthy diet, encouraging exercise and outdoor play, praising their positive behaviour and acknowledging their strengths, will help them get back on track. Make sure they understand that depression is not a weakness, and that people of all ages, from all walks of life will suffer with the condition. Let them know talking about it is always a better option that telling no one at all.

Although a real and serious condition, childhood depression is treatable. With family support and the correct treatment, your child will be given the tools they need to overcome this disorder.

HIV In Children - What To Do and How To Help

It is an unfortunate fact that an HIV positive mother can pass her condition on to her unborn child. This is usually because they were unaware of their HIV status when they got pregnant. Discovering that you have unwittingly given your child HIV can be a crushing blow. People feel a tremendous sense of guilt, and worry that their child will not be accepted by the world at large. Nonetheless, parents in such a situation should not lose heart. Most people have the best interests of children at heart - no matter that they have HIV. There is also plenty that can be done these days to limit the effects of HIV – especially when caught young. (Antiretroviral therapy of HIV infection in infants and children) Your child can go on to live a healthy and happy life, their infection notwithstanding. However, challenges will inevitably arise. Here is a short guide to dealing with some of them.

When To Tell Your Child

Many people are unsure when it is a good idea to tell their child that they are HIV positive. It is a tricky balance between unduly scaring a child who is too young to really understand, and shocking an older child who may then feel a sense of betrayal that you had not told them sooner of their condition. Many parents also keep their child’s HIV positive status from them in a bid to save them from being exposed to community prejudice. However, it must be remembered that children are not dumb innocents. It will not take them long to figure out that they are taking medication which other kids are not. Those kids who do take medication (asthmatics, diabetics and so on) will generally know why they take their own medication and may even ask your child what his or her medicine is for. It is perhaps best, therefore, to let the information out slowly, over time, in varying degrees depending upon how much you feel that they can take in. This ‘softly, slowly’ approach can be difficult to handle, but if done effectively it will both answer questions that younger children may have about their medication, and prevent the news from coming as a horrible shock to older children. It is notable that children aware of their condition from pre-pubescence and gradually being naturalized to its details and implications usually cope with the diagnosis quite well. Studies have shown that they have few to no psychological problems associated with the knowledge, and accept their condition with remarkable equanimity and strength of mind.

What To Tell Your Child

Children, when they are aware of their condition, will need information – they should not be kept in the dark about the nature and implications of their condition. Furthermore, you will probably have to reiterate this information several times, or even modify it should treatment options and so forth change. Children are surprisingly resilient, so you would be amazed at how much negative information they can take in with a courage and strength that would fail an adult. However, it is best to be as positive as possible nonetheless. Focus on the improvements that have occurred in treatment – HIV positive people, with the right treatment consistently given, can now expect to live just as long as those who are HIV negative, and science is making positive advances towards even better treatment all the time. While the condition should not be downplayed – to do so would be in many ways to insult the intelligence of the child, and children respect adults who deal honestly with them – emphasizing these positives may take the sting out of what you have to tell them. Also make sure that you listen and respond (to the best of your abilities) to any queries they may have. They will inevitably have questions. If there are any which you cannot answer, show the child that you are making an effort by writing them down and promising to consult a doctor upon the matter when next you have an appointment.

What To Tell Others

Many people are very worried about how their HIV positive child will be able to interact with their peers and the HIV-negative world. They do not want their child to experience stigma or rejection purely because of their condition, and thus hide their child’s HIV status. This is a perfectly understandable stance to take, and you do not have to tell anyone about your child’s HIV if you do not want to – not even their school. However, telling others can have surprising benefits. For one thing, much of the stigma that used to surround the condition has been eradicated, so telling teachers and other people may in fact open up more love and support for your child, rather than the opposite. For another, it is likely that your child will need to have clinic visits and so on, meaning that questions may arise regarding their absences from school, play-dates and so on. Disclosing your child’s HIV status can help to alleviate any such queries. You might also find that freely informing teachers and other personages whom your child respects of the HIV can have psychological benefits for your child. Your child should never be made to feel ashamed of their condition – and keeping it hidden may reinforce the idea that they have something shameful and are therefore themselves inherently shameful – which is obviously extremely bad for them psychologically. However, some parents and caregivers have found that it is better all round to keep the knowledge of your child’s HIV to a minimum number of people. It all depends upon what you think is best. After all, you know your child and your child’s lifestyle better than most, so you will know which course of action is most appropriate.

Interacting With Others

There is no need to be concerned about your child transmitting HIV to another child. HIV can absolutely not be transmitted through hugs, sharing drinking fountains, kisses, using the same toilet as an infected person, eating in the same canteen, holding hands, or contact with any bodily fluids (including sweat, phlegm, tears, and urine) other than blood. It is so rare as to be almost impossible for someone to contract HIV simply from living and playing in close proximity with someone who has HIV. Having said this, however, it may be wise to let young children know that they should be careful if they cut themselves not to let their blood get near anyone else who has a cut. As they get older, be sure to stress the importance of safe sex, and possibly provide condoms – just in case!

Have Hope For The Future

HIV has such a terrifying reputation in this day and age that discovering your child has HIV can induce total panic and despair. However, there is really no need to worry. As long as your child is taking their medication and doing their best to stay healthy, there is no reason why they should not enjoy a long, quality-filled life just like their peers. The most important thing is to be on hand to offer love and support – the medication will keep your child’s body alive, and thriving, but the unconditional love you offer will help them to come to terms with their condition and live as full a life as they possibly can.