A special seminar titled Words Matter: Childhood Verbal Abuse is being hosted by the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH), on 13 February 2024. ACAMH has over 40,000 members from a diverse group of clinicians, practitioners and world-leading child mental health researchers, who work across an array of child and adolescent mental health areas. Its focus is on sharing best evidence and improving practice on its mission to ‘improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 0-25’.
This free seminar includes presentations from Jessica Bondy, Founder Words Matter; Professor Shanta R. Dube, Director of the Master of Public Health Program at Wingate University and lead author of our Systematic Review; and Dr Fiona Pienaar, child and adolescent mental health specialist, Senior Clinical Advisor at Mental Health Innovations, and previously Director of Clinical Services at the charity Place2Be.
Jessica Bondy, commenting on the seminar says:
“We are delighted to be given this incredible platform to share our mission, research and practical steps to help end verbal abuse of children by adults. ACAMH is an extraordinary organisation that plays a vital role in sharing new research and information to support experts and practitioners as they help improve the young people’s mental health and wellbeing.”
Seminar topics and speakers
Help end verbal abuse of children by adults by Jessica Bondy
Jessica will discuss the prevalence and impact of childhood verbal abuse (CVA) and the rationale of setting up a charity to address it. Today, 2 in 5 (41%) children experience verbal abuse from adults in the form of hurtful and upsetting words to blame, insult and criticise. It can cause lifelong damage and affect an individual’s ability to function at home, school, the workplace, and in social situations. She will be highlighting the charity’s mission and approach, and the importance of building children up, not knocking them down to help children thrive.
What mental health professionals need to know about CVA by Professor Shanta R. Dube
Professor Dube will present the key findings from a recent systematic review, commissioned by Words Matter and published in peer review journal Childhood Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal. A key conclusion of this review is that childhood verbal abuse should be its own childhood maltreatment subtype so that it can be prevented through better understanding, research and appropriate solutions.
Words Matter: Insight from children by Dr. Fiona Pienaar
Dr. Pienaar’s presentation acknowledges the sensitive and complex nature of verbal abuse and how it can often be overlooked and underestimated. It amplifies the voices of children (and their parents and carers) to shed light on the impact of verbal abuse within family, educational and social environments. Children also provide insight into how positive communications with adults contribute to their mental health and wellbeing. Information about available resources and support systems will be provided.
To book a place visit www.acamh.org/event/child-verbal-abuse/