Hi SAM, my parents if I get into trouble hit me and verbally assault me. There of Bengali descent (immagrents) so they don't use or understand the concept of 'grounding' so they hit me really hard. They also verbally abuse me in Bengali about how I'm handicapped, overweight and a complete idiot (even though I get good marks in school) . Is this child abuse.
Sam
Hi there,
If someone deliberately hurts or injures you, this is called physical abuse. No matter what the situation, it’s wrong and it’s never your fault.
Anyone can be abused. Different families raise and discipline their children in different ways, but abuse is never okay. If someone is constantly putting you down or bullying you, this can also be called emotional abuse.
If you’re ever worried about things at home it’s important to remember that you don’t have to be alone with it. Talking to an adult you trust can help you to get the support you need. Telling someone what’s happening isn’t about getting anyone in trouble, but it’s to help make sure you’re safe.
Sometimes it can be difficult knowing how to start a conversation about what’s happening. It can help sometimes to write down what you’d like to say. You could even keep a diary of what’s been happening to show the person you tell. Remember that you don’t have to say everything at once if you’re not ready, you can say more in the future when you’re ready.
If you speak to someone like a teacher or police officer, they’ve got a duty to keep you safe. That means that they might need to tell someone else – like a social worker – who’s there to support you and your family.
If you’re ever feeling worried about your safety, you can call 999 and ask for the police at any time. The police can feel scary but they’re there to keep people safe. Childline is here to support you as well.
Childline’s confidentiality promise means that they can keep more things confidential than people like your teachers. This means that you can talk to a Childline counsellor about what’s happening at home, and think about what you want to do when you’re ready.
Take care,
Sam
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