The Trenton Times published the following opinion piece on May 27, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Opinion: Children exposed to violence have increased risk for medical, mental health problems
By Times of Trenton guest opinion column
on May 27, 2013 at 6:00 AM, updated May 27, 2013 at 6:06 AMBy Ronald C. Gering
With the unfolding of the recent tragic events in Trenton involving the murder of a mother and her 13-year-old son by a man who then held hostage three surviving children for two weeks, we will hear many residents ask, “Why?” and “Couldn’t this have been prevented?”
To the first question, no one this side of the vale of tears can come close to providing an answer that satisfies. It is difficult enough to comprehend the loss of life that results from natural disasters, let alone acts of willful human violence.
In terms of the second question, there will be finger-pointing — at the schools, the police and possibly other entities. As a community, it is valuable that we examine how we respond to situations involving children who are at risk. I would also propose that a more effective response to the question of whether this could have been prevented is to invest in preventive and intervention strategies in the lives of young children who experience trauma — in whatever form it takes.
During the past 20 years, clinical and research evidence has shown that children who are exposed to violence are at increased risk for myriad medical and mental health problems, including being at higher risk of repeating the use of violence themselves. But along with these troubling findings, research and study have developed effective treatments that help children (and adults) who have suffered trauma. A growing accumulation of data supports the idea that making these mental health therapies and counseling interventions available to traumatized children decreases the incidence of other disorders such as substance abuse, mental illness and violent behaviors later in life. By paying close attention to children living in at-risk situations and communities and by providing timely and appropriate counseling to these young people, we can prevent much future violence.
For more than three decades, I have overseen Catholic Charities’ Children and Family Services in Trenton, where we have helped thousands of individuals heal and recover from unspeakable acts of violence and abuse. I have seen remarkable advancements in the treatment of trauma and now have a much clearer understanding not only of the behavioral and emotional consequences of violence but also of the impact it makes on brain functioning and development. I know that proven, research-based interventions provided by patient and skilled counselors in a compassionate setting can help victims of trauma restore their functioning and renew their trust in others.
But with the many dramatic advancements, why do some situations appear to fall through the cracks? We cannot possibly prevent every act of intentional human violence, but there may be opportunities to improve the accessibility of counseling to families at particular risk. In response to the violence in our communities, trauma services at Catholic Charities have been expanded to encompass the full spectrum of trauma-related disorders resulting from intentional acts of violence, natural disasters and military service. We are one of several social services agencies in the Trenton area that work closely with the schools and state-run youth protection programs to make counseling available to families in need, regardless of ability to pay.
Common symptoms resulting from trauma or abuse can be physical and emotional. Physical symptoms can include disrupted sleep (insomnia, nightmares), heightened startle response, trouble concentrating, increased agitation, aches and pains, and sometimes complaints of rapid heartbeat. Emotional symptoms might include being withdrawn or disconnected, sadness, hopelessness, mood swings, irritability, or being in a general state of shock or confusion.
There are some more overt signs of abuse: physical abuse indicated by bruises, abrasions, broken bones; sexual abuse indicated by sexual behavior that is not appropriate/congruent with the child’s age, nudity, re-enacting sexual situations with others or in play; and emotional abuse indicated by acting out toward others (called identification with the aggressor).
The key is to notice when there is a difference in the individual’s behavior from how he or she would typically react/interact with the world or if his or her behavior is overly mature or immature for the individual’s chronological age.
At our Family Growth Program in Trenton, therapists are trained in techniques originally pioneered 30 years ago on military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Two of them, eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) and integration based stress reduction (IBSR), have received support from the Mercer County Division of Mental Health, and EMDR is recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices and Trauma Network as an evidenced-based practice for treatment of trauma, anxiety and depression.
We and other social services providers are here to help and are constantly seeking opportunities to offer the most effective interventions to everyone in need in our community. And we are just a phone call away.
Children have taught me over the past decades that we need to understand how they learn to love and to trust, and how they are affected by stress and trauma.
I hope that any discussion of the recent horrific tragedy brings increased focus on getting appropriate help to children affected by violence in the home and in our community.
Ronald C. Gering, LPC, CCMHC, is director of Children and Family Services at Catholic Charities.