Child Emotional Maltreatment
The child has suffered or is at substantial risk of suffering from mental, emotional or developmental problems caused by overtly hostile or punitive treatment, or habitual or extreme verbal abuse (e.g. threatening, belittling). If treatment is offered but caregivers do not cooperate, classify case under failure to provide treatment as well. Examples include:
- Non-organic failure to thrive – a child under three, who has suffered a marked retardation or cessation of growth for which no organic reason can be identified. Failure to thrive cases where inadequate nutrition is the identified cause should be classified as physical neglect. Non-organic failure to thrive is generally considered to be a form of psychological maltreatment, however, it has been classified as a separate category because of its particular characteristics.
- Emotional neglect – the child has suffered or is at substantial risk of suffering from mental, emotional or developmental problems caused by inadequate nurturing or affection. If treatment is being offered but caregivers are not cooperating, classify cause under failure to provide treatment as well.
- Exposed to domestic violence – the child has been a witness to violence occurring between the caregivers (or a caregiver and his/her partner). This would include situations where the child indirectly witnessed violence (e.g. saw the physical injuries on his/her caregiver the next day or overheard the violence.)