The Impact of Covid-19 and Childhood Trauma, abuse and CPTSD

Covid and Childhood Trauma

I want to write about something really important, and that is the impact of COVID-19 on the children of America right now. And I recognize that it also impacts children around the world. But I specifically want to talk about America to start with, because, as a person who comes from a home of violence and trauma and abuse, I cannot imagine what my life would be like in this very moment had COVID happened in my childhood and I’ve posted on Instagram recently, and it went a bit viral on Facebook. If COVID-19 was happening during my childhood, I'd be terrified. Now is the time to think about children across America, who are going to be trapped in violent homes with little resources. This is the national child abuse hotline, (800) 422-4453. 

Covid-19 Child Abuse Statistics

I posted that because I have this recognition that in my childhood, all of the abuse that was happening with being trapped in my home with my parents, with my mother who is a drug addict and alcoholic, and my stepfather who is hyper abusive, that the impact of that, I don't know that I would have been able to overcome. Now that’s speculation on something hypothetical. And I don't know what would happen because as you know, my childhood was pretty traumatic, to begin with. But I think about often as we are in the midst of COVID-19, would I’ve been able to survive. And what I want to share with you are some statistics that I recently came across before doing a presentation for a school, and they are really startling. And as usual, I think it's really important that as we take these things into consideration, we recognize that this is happening right now in real-time in America. And these statistics that I'm going to read from you, I came across from Washington post, the national children's Alliance, RAINN, and a couple of other advocacy programs. I'll put some information in the show notes for you. 

Child abuse reports are down during Covid-19

The most startling stat is that child abuse reports were an average of 14% lower in March 2020 versus 2019. However, in April, they were 40% lower and April child abuse reports were 40% lower than in 2019. That is not an indicative factor that child abuse is now on a deterioration. In fact, what it is, is very scary. Because now we have more children who are stuck at home that doesn't have first interaction with teachers, with faculty, with bus drivers, with babysitters, with anyone. And they're stuck at home with these very abusive, very dangerous situations and doctors are saying that they're responding to more of physical abuse than ever before. And for the first time in its 25 year history RAINN, the national sexual abuse hotline said that half of their victims who are calling are minors. Think about that for a moment. Half the people calling this hotline are children who recognize that they are being sexually abused.

One of the scariest stats to think about is that advocacy programs are losing their funding and have been hit with huge setbacks. The national children's Alliance estimates that this year there'll be a $90 million funding loss. That's tremendous. That is so much money. That is so much help that children are not going to be getting right now. And when you look at the child abuse statistics and knowing that every year, 4.3 million child referral reports are received and that 91% of victims are maltreated by either one or both parents, you have to think about the exponential rate that this is going to have. 

The beginning of CPTSD in the time of Covid

How you can help Children abused during Covid-19

In 2018, it was estimated that about 1800 children died in their homes from abuse and neglect. That puts you around about five children per day. Now imagine what those numbers are going to be when they run 2020 numbers. And my friend, if you are not scared, you should be. And if you're not supporting, you should be. I'm going to put some links in the show notes of how you can be more supportive, but now is a great time to be an advocate. Now is a great time to show up for children. Now is a great time to put yourself in a position to help other people thrive. And you can especially help in financial support. You can help by just giving your time. You can help by writing a personal note to a kid that you know. You can help by supporting your local school. You can help in so many different ways. So please, even though we recognize that life is a little chaotic right now, it has a great opportunity for you to show up. 

I just want you to know that this is on my heart right now, and it's important because ultimately I would love to get to this position where you and I don't have these conversations anymore, where we live in a country that takes care of its children, where we live in this place, where people are safe and can grow up in healthy and sustainable life and build resiliency. But we don't. And until we do, we stay the course.

 -Michael