"It's everyone's responsibility to keep children safe": NSPCC calls for action on emotional abuse
One in six adults in the South West fail to recognise examples of controlling behaviour
The NSPCC has warned too many people are unaware of the signs of emotional child abuse.
A YouGov survey commissioned by the charity gave participants a series of behaviours and asked them to correctly identify what was deemed as emotional abuse.
In the South West, one in six participants (17%), failed to correctly identify examples of abusive behaviour.
These scenarios included overly controlling a child's life, never showing any emotions in interactions with a child and pushing a child too hard or not recognising their limitations.
Research suggests that 1 in 15 children in the UK will experience emotional abuse.
One girl, aged 17, told Childline: “Mum’s never hit me, but it still feels abusive. She always tells me she hates me, that I’m selfish, that I’m stupid.
"When she’s angry she breaks my stuff and blames it on me. She controls my friendships too; she says no one would want to be my friend anyway. I feel so defeated and drained living with this every day.”
The NSPCC is hoping to inspire one million people to take action as part of their Listen Up, Speak Up campaign, which provides simple tips and advice on signs a child might be at risk through online training and workshops.
In the South West several National Trust sites have welcomed NSPCC staff to deliver workshops to staff and volunteers.
Sara Bird, Safeguarding and Wellbeing Lead for the National Trust, said: “The National Trust is here for everyone and as children engage with us, we make sure our staff and volunteers have the training and support to create safe and enjoyable spaces.
"It’s been wonderful to host NSPCC workshops for our staff and volunteers to further develop awareness and raise confidence in these spaces.”
NSPCC’s CEO, Chris Sherwood, said: "It is concerning that on average one in six adults in the South West aren't able to correctly identify emotional abuse.
"We know that emotional abuse can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on children's wellbeing and development, affecting their mental health, and relationships well into adulthood.
"In just 10 minutes, we can help adults learn to recognise both the obvious and subtle signs a child might be at risk and take action to support them. Every adult has the power to make a difference.”
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